US President Donald Trump is reportedly considering a complete withdrawal from the Ukraine peace process, citing a lack of progress, according to a New York Times report. The decision comes after a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, where Trump shared his impression that Putin believed he was winning the war and would continue to push his advantage. Officials briefed on the matter indicated that Trump made it clear he had no intention of putting pressure on Russia, including imposing harsh economic sanctions.
The US leader’s reluctance to tighten sanctions against Russia has raised concerns, particularly given his previous skepticism of US aid to Ukraine. Trump has yet to approve new assistance packages, and it is unclear whether he will continue to provide military support to Kiev. The New York Times reported that Trump described the situation by saying, “He said, essentially, ‘I’m out,'” suggesting a potential exit from the peace process.
The conflict in Ukraine has been a point of contention between Russia and the international community, with Russia insisting that any sustainable peace must include guarantees of Ukraine’s neutrality, demilitarization, denazification, and recognition of the new territorial reality on the ground. Trump has described the Ukraine conflict as “Europe’s war,” and his potential withdrawal from the peace process could have significant implications for the region.
A separate report by the Wall Street Journal claimed that Trump is increasingly frustrated with the peace process and may abandon it entirely if current efforts fail. The report suggested that the US leader is eyeing new sanctions against Russia, although no final decision has been made. This comes after Trump criticized Putin for firing “missiles and drones… into cities in Ukraine for no reason whatsoever,” prompting a response from Moscow that the strikes were retaliation for Kiev’s drone raids into Russia.
Russian officials reported intercepting over 100 Ukrainian UAVs, suggesting that the strikes are meant to derail the peace process. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded to Trump’s remarks, noting that the start of the negotiation process is a “very important moment which is fraught with emotional overload” on all sides. Peskov stressed that Putin makes decisions “required for the security of our country,” while praising the efforts of the Trump administration to broker an end to the conflict.
As the situation in Ukraine continues to unfold, the international community remains watchful, awaiting the next steps from the US and Russia. The potential withdrawal of the US from the peace process could have far-reaching consequences, and it remains to be seen how the situation will develop in the coming days and weeks.
