United States President Donald Trump has reportedly told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Ukraine and Russia must “sort it out yourselves,” effectively refusing to apply further pressure on the Kremlin after a call with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. This account, uncovered by The New York Times, suggests Trump is turning away from previous promises to lead peace talks and instead is exploring business opportunities with Moscow.
The report details that Trump’s private conversation followed his call with Putin, after which he told both Ukrainian and European leaders that the two nations must find their own solution. This statement starkly contrasts with Trump’s earlier claim that only he and Putin could bring an end to the war within twenty four hours. Officials familiar with the talks, who spoke anonymously, indicated that Trump had decided not to join Europe’s campaign to increase sanctions on Russia.
Rather than isolating the Kremlin, Trump appears focused on pursuing economic cooperation with Russia. Observers see this as a calculated step to distance the United States from multilateral sanctions and international diplomatic support for Ukraine.
The decision, confirmed just days ago, has stunned officials across Europe. Trump’s abandonment of coordinated pressure on Russia has also caused fresh divisions within the NATO alliance. Experts believe this hands Putin exactly what he wants: a fractured West and reduced foreign pressure.
Sources within the U.S. administration say Trump has expressed growing frustration with the pace of ceasefire negotiations. According to The New York Times, he has threatened to withdraw from these talks altogether.
Further insights from senior diplomats confirm that this trend began much earlier. Trump’s rocky history with Ukraine was marked by a scandalous White House meeting with Zelensky, followed by the resignation of the U.S. ambassador in Kyiv. Former ambassador Bridget Brink, who recently stepped down, commented that Trump’s entire approach seemed focused on pressuring the victim of the war – Ukraine – rather than the aggressor, Russia.
While U.S. Senator Marco Rubio recently noted that stronger sanctions could push Russia away from peace talks, Trump’s actions appear to favour appeasement. Even when Trump’s Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth suggested Ukraine would never join NATO and should relinquish hopes of recovering occupied territories – both key demands from the Kremlin – it still failed to prompt any breakthrough.
Analysts say Putin is using Trump’s predictable behaviour to his advantage. A leading political scientist told UNN that any memorandum on peace is meaningless while Trump allows himself to be manipulated like an “open book”.
Despite the public face of diplomacy, the Kremlin has shown no genuine intent to negotiate. The Institute for the Study of War confirmed that Putin has no plans to engage with Zelensky, despite assurances given to Trump.
