Trump administration frustrated with Moscow’s resistance to Ukraine peace deal

Senior officials within the Trump administration have recently discussed the growing likelihood that the US will not be able to secure a peace deal for Ukraine in the coming months. 

As a result, they are considering new strategies to pressure both Kyiv and Moscow, according to two US officials familiar with the matter, quoted by Reuters.

At the start of his presidency, Donald Trump and his senior advisers had set ambitious goals for a ceasefire by April or May, hoping to broker a lasting peace deal shortly thereafter. However, as of now, neither a ceasefire nor an agreement seems imminent. This raises concerns that the three-year-old war may continue for an extended period, requiring Ukraine to rely more on Western support for its military operations.

Such a prolonged conflict would be a significant disappointment for Trump, a self-described dealmaker who has repeatedly promised to bring an end to the war swiftly. The ongoing war has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and poses a growing risk of NATO being pulled into direct conflict with Russia, which is armed with nuclear weapons.

In recent weeks, senior US officials have expressed frustration with Kyiv’s handling of the peace negotiations. They have particularly been critical of Ukraine's resistance to a proposed minerals deal with Washington and its hesitance to move forward with peace talks. However, the sources revealed that in the past few days, the administration's frustration has increasingly shifted toward Moscow.

Over the weekend, during several meetings and calls, White House and State Department officials acknowledged that Russian President Vladimir Putin is actively resisting Washington's efforts to strike a lasting peace agreement. They also discussed potential economic and diplomatic measures that could pressure Russia into moving closer to a deal.

This shift in sentiment toward Moscow, including growing anger from President Trump himself, signals a change in the administration’s internal stance on Russia’s willingness to negotiate. For weeks, Trump had expressed confidence in Putin, publicly stating that he believed the Russian president was committed to peace. However, recent developments have led the White House to become more wary of Putin’s true intentions, although Trump continues to publicly assert that he believes Putin wants to end the conflict.

It remains unclear what specific measures the administration is considering to pressure Moscow, but one senior US official mentioned that the White House is actively exploring additional tariffs and sanctions that could be imposed on Russia.

By Tamilla Hasanova