Donald Trump confidently claimed last year that he could end the Ukraine war within a single day if elected president. He made this bold statement during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in September 2023. Trump repeated his promise during a televised debate, suggesting that he could resolve the conflict before taking office. However, two months into his presidency, the situation has proven far more complex than he originally thought.
Diplomatic Setbacks and Shifting Expectations
Trump initially placed high hopes on personal diplomacy to resolve the war quickly. In February 2023, he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin for 90 minutes. Trump described the conversation as productive. He held another call with Putin in March 2023. Despite these talks, the U.S. failed to secure the 30-day ceasefire Trump had hoped for. Putin only agreed to halt attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, but Ukraine quickly accused Russia of breaking this promise.
Trump later admitted that his claim of ending the war in 24 hours was sarcastic. He acknowledged that the conflict’s complexity had exceeded his expectations.
Strategic Missteps and Unrealized Diplomacy
Trump’s faith in private diplomacy played a role in slowing the peace process. He believed that direct talks could resolve the crisis. However, his conversations with Putin did not lead to tangible results. Putin rejected the idea of a phased peace process. He insisted that talks must address NATO’s expansion and Ukraine’s sovereignty. Putin also laid out conditions before agreeing to further discussions.
Additionally, Washington made a strategic error by assuming that Zelensky was blocking peace efforts instead of focusing on Putin. U.S. officials later admitted that Ukraine did not immediately understand the shift in U.S. policy under Trump. This misunderstanding led to tense interactions between Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Zelensky. Diplomatic energy was consumed, and relations between the U.S. and Ukraine grew strained.
Complicated Negotiations and Delayed Ceasefire
The war’s complexity makes any ceasefire agreement difficult. Ukraine proposed a limited air and naval ceasefire, which it thought could be easily monitored. But the U.S. pushed for a broader ceasefire along the entire eastern front line. Putin rejected this request.
Even agreements like halting attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure face challenges. Upcoming talks in Saudi Arabia will focus on defining which facilities need protection. Experts must decide which power plants should be prioritized and what weapons can be used. These talks could delay any significant progress.
Economic Interests and Diplomatic Distractions
The U.S. also pushed for economic interests alongside peace talks. Trump aimed to secure access to Ukraine’s critical minerals, which are valuable for global markets. Some viewed this as future investment, while others saw it as resource exploitation.
Zelensky insisted on securing security guarantees before agreeing to a deal. However, Washington declined to offer these guarantees, arguing that U.S. companies would deter Russian aggression. Zelensky eventually agreed to the deal without guarantees, but the signing has been delayed. Washington continues to negotiate over access to Ukraine’s nuclear energy sector.
The conflict in Ukraine remains unresolved. Trump’s efforts have moved the talks forward, but progress has been slow. The war’s complexity and competing interests make it harder to find a quick solution. Zelensky, who once thought talks with Putin would be simple, now realizes that peace is more difficult to achieve than he had hoped. After two months of negotiations, the road to peace appears longer and more challenging than expected.