Achieved a 30-Day Ceasefire Agreement, but Progress Stalls Thereafter
"Erratic Statements Leave Counterparts Confused"
The Donald Trump administration in the United States, which is pushing for negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, is facing growing criticism as progress has fallen short of expectations. After Secretary of State Marco Rubio, President Trump himself warned that the U.S. would withdraw from its mediating role if no progress was made, exposing the difficulties facing the negotiations.
The British daily The Guardian analyzed on the 18th (local time) that the Trump administration's threat to withdraw from Ukraine peace talks clearly demonstrates its lack of expertise and patience.
President Trump had claimed since his candidacy that he could end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours. Immediately after taking office, he positioned himself as a problem-solver by pursuing 'top-down' negotiations with Russia, excluding Ukraine and Europe from the process.
However, there is criticism that the mediation has yielded insufficient results, as Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians continue. The U.S. threatened to suspend military aid to Ukraine and secured agreement on a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, but due to Russian opposition, only a partial ceasefire targeting energy facilities was achieved, and even that has not been properly maintained in recent days.
Unlike the professional diplomatic efforts that led to agreements such as the Dayton Agreement, which ended the Bosnian War, or the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt, the Trump administration has attempted to resolve everything through phone calls and meetings rather than through sustained diplomatic engagement. The Guardian sarcastically noted that the basic element of a 'Trump deal' is that it should not take much time or effort.
In reality, Steve Witkoff, the special envoy for the Middle East, has held several calls and meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but there is no indication that he has proposed any terms that would move the peace talks into a new phase. Even if President Trump completely withdraws from the negotiations, it is only Ukraine that stands to lose its allies and financial backers; Russia, on the other hand, has little to lose.
The New York Times (NYT) analyzed that President Trump has often used erratic statements to confuse his counterparts, and this situation appears to be a continuation of that approach. It remains unclear whether the threat to withdraw from the negotiations is a genuine intent to end mediation or simply a pressure tactic, but it has nonetheless caused concern in Ukraine and Europe.
The NYT also highlighted Secretary Rubio's remarks expressing hope that Europe would remain consistently engaged in efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Secretary Rubio said, "I believe the UK, France, and Germany can help move this issue forward and bring us closer to a resolution," adding, "I think their ideas have been very helpful and constructive."
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