Facing Challenges in Ukraine and Gaza, Trump Discovers Easing Military Conflicts is More Complex Than Anticipated
Rewritten Article:
President Donald Trump finds himself at a roadblock as his bravado about peace deals can't quicken the pace of wars abating.
As Trump tentatively stepped towards a peace plan for Ukraine yesterday, another ceasefire crumbled. In this instance, Israel unleashed a new offensive against Hamas in Gaza, claiming hundreds of civilian lives.
A call between Trump and a stubborn Russian President Vladimir Putin, with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu back on the battlefield, highlights the cloudy geopolitical terrain thwarting Trump's ambition to be a global peace icon. A role he once predicted would be his patented achievement soon after returning to the Oval Office.
Signs abound that Trump's objectives extend beyond halting the fighting with an equitable peace. The nature of his chat with Putin only fueled fears within Ukraine's government and its European allies that Trump views the war as a minor distraction en route to a rapprochement with Moscow. Such a stance could tint his perspective on the conflict through Russian spectacles, resulting in his recent admonishment of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky until he agreed to Trump's 30-day ceasefire plan, but lauding Putin when he refused to buckle on Tuesday.
Trump's support of Netanyahu's resumption of bombardment in Gaza, however, shattered efforts by Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff to secure the release of hostages and a second-phase deal toward ending a conflict that stands as an impediment to the administration's top goal - a historic peace deal between Israel and Arab states. Yet, a new US air offensive against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen indicates that Trump is now focused on another goal - ratcheting up pressure on the Islamic Republic to force it into nuclear negotiations, or to weaken its regional proxies before a potential Israeli or US strike on its nuclear facilities.
Now back in power, Trump has attacked US allies in Europe, staked territorial claims against Canada, Greenland, and Panama, and dreamt of winning the Nobel Peace Prize. But the foreign policy question looming largest in his second term is whether he'll apply pressure on either Putin or Netanyahu. The potential for Trump's Nobel aspirations depends heavily on that decision.
Trump Claims Ukraine Peace Deal is imminent
The White House was buoyed about the president's phone call with Putin. However, the main takeaway was Russian resistance to a US ceasefire proposal.
Although the Russians agreed to halt attacks on Ukrainian energy and infrastructure targets, as per the White House, they continue to pummel other frontline and civilian targets in Ukraine. Indeed, Ukraine reported Russian drone strikes on a hospital in the Sumy region that very night. A Russian readout of the talks differed slightly from the US version, hinting at a narrower scope for the accord.
The administration insisted that the agreement was merely the first step, and talks would now take place in the Middle East towards a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea and a comprehensive ceasefire and permanent peace.
"It was an excellent call," Trump said renewing his boasts that only he could broker such a feat swiftly. "If I weren't here, he would never do it," Trump said of Putin in an interview with the Washington Examiner, underscoring the need for his personal involvement. "The next thing would be a full ceasefire and a deal," Trump said optimistically, brushing off Putin's latest roadblocks. Still, Trump's self-congratulation may be more political spin to compensate for the failure of his full ceasefire push.
"Putin rejected the proposal that was put on the table," stated William Browder, the head of the Global Magnitsky Justice Campaign and a prominent critic of Putin. Boris Johnson, former British Prime Minister and Trump's friend, was even more critical. "What a surprise - Putin rejects an unconditional ceasefire," Johnson said on X. "He wants to keep bombing and killing innocent Ukrainians. He wants Ukraine disarmed. He wants Ukraine neutralized. He wants to make Ukraine a vassal state of Russia. He isn't negotiating. He's laughing at us."
A US-Russia Deal Less Than It Seems
Putin's agreement to halt attacks on energy infrastructure was strategic, as he wished to avoid upsetting Trump and appears to be a concession. However, the concession might be less significant than it seems. By picking the single aspect that Ukraine has excelled at during the war - striking Russian energy infrastructure - Putin may have scored a victory. Beth Sanner, a former senior US intelligence official, explained on "CNN News Central": "What have they agreed to? The exact thing that Ukraine has been successful in during this war has been striking Russian energy infrastructure. So, picking that one thing is a win." Sanner added, "These are Kremlin terms; these are not American terms. This is definitely Putin driving this agreement."
Both the Kremlin and the White House hinted at deeper intentions behind their engagement over Ukraine. They brought up broader global issues, including nuclear proliferation, and envisioned a new partnership with potential economic benefits. This underscores Trump's goal of reinstating Putin on the global stage, forging an arrangement that avoids him bearing the cost of unprovoked and illegal invasions of sovereign democracies. The sudden convergence of the two governments was a stark reminder of how Trump forsakes American allies and embraces an adversary of the U.S.
In the White House readout, officials pointed out that the leaders "shared the view that Iran should never be in a position to destroy Israel." This was a significant hint since a key objective of a US reconciliation with Russia could be to alienate Russia from its tightening partnership with Tehran, which is part of a growing informal network that includes other US foes, North Korea and China.
- Despite President Donald Trump's claims of an imminent peace deal in Ukraine, a new offensive launched by Israel against Hamas in Gaza, with Trump's support, has shattered efforts to secure the release of hostages and a second-phase deal.
- A US-Russia agreement to halt attacks on energy infrastructure in Ukraine, while potentially strategic for both parties, might be less significant than it seems, as the Kremlin may have scored a victory by selecting the single aspect that Ukraine has excelled at during the war - striking Russian energy infrastructure.
- In light of Trump's aspiration to reinstating Putin on the global stage and forging a new partnership, the sudden convergence of the two governments on Ukraine could potentially lead to alienating Russia from its partnership with Iran, a key objective of a US reconciliation with Russia.
