Image Creator: Heute.at courtesy Julia Demaree Nikhinson / AP / picturedesk.com
Trump Hits Pause on Peace Push, Says Putin and Zelenskyy Must Go First
Donald Trump is easing back—at least for now—from his highly public role in trying to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine. After weeks of speculation about a possible summit, the former president has decided to wait and let Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy take the first step themselves. Only after the two leaders meet directly does Trump plan to re-enter the picture, though when that might happen is still unclear.
It’s a noticeable shift. On the campaign trail, Trump repeatedly promised he could end the war within days of returning to office. Inside the White House, the reality has proven trickier. The conflict grinds on, neither side shows much willingness to bend, and Trump’s team has started to acknowledge that diplomacy may take longer than they had initially suggested.
Over the past week, Trump huddled with Zelenskyy and several European heads of state in Washington before picking up the phone with Putin. The outcome was modest: both Moscow and Kyiv agreed to name senior envoys to keep conversations alive, but no road map for actual negotiations emerged.
Meanwhile, the fighting has only intensified. Russia unleashed one of its heaviest aerial attacks in months, a move widely read as a reminder that Moscow intends to keep pressure on Ukraine while talks stall. The strikes undercut the hopeful tone that Trump has tried to set.
Still, the U.S. president hasn’t completely stepped aside. He has floated the idea of limited American support for any eventual agreement—mainly through intelligence sharing or air cover—while making it clear that no U.S. ground troops would be involved. Some in Europe are weighing whether they might take on a larger security role themselves, though discussions remain at an early stage.
As for a venue, Budapest, Istanbul, and even Switzerland have been whispered about as possible hosts for a future summit. But nothing is locked in, and officials close to the process admit the logistics are meaningless until Putin and Zelenskyy show real readiness to sit across the table.
For now, Trump seems content to wait on the sidelines, betting that a direct Putin-Zelenskyy encounter will clear the way. Whether that gamble pays off—or whether the war simply deepens—remains anyone’s guess
