Why peace talks between Ukraine and Russia are not as simple as Trump makes out
Why peace talks between Ukraine and Russia are not as simple as Trump makes out
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Donald Trump says he will use financial leverage to force Russia to accept a deal to end the invasion of Ukraine. US President Donald Trump’s pre-election promises to end the war in Ukraine in less than 24 hours – and before his inauguration – have proved empty.
![[Donald Trump has ruled out the possibility of Ukraine joining Nato while he is in the White House]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/26/23/Trump_18639.jpg)
Keith Kellog, Mr Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, says the administration’s new goal is to stop the fighting in 100 days. But details on how this will be achieved remain scant. Mr Trump has repeatedly claimed this is because speaking openly about his plans would undermine his negotiating position. His detractors, however, say this is a cover for a lack of plan.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, meanwhile, have both expressed a willingness to speak with Mr Trump, though both have their own demands if peace is to be achieved. Below, The Independent looks at the factors at play and why a peace deal could prove elusive.
Two days after Mr Trump’s inauguration, the US president gave the first brief insight into his plans. “If a deal is not reached, I will have no other choice but to put high levels of taxes, tariffs, and sanctions on anything being sold by Russia to the United States and other participating countries," he posted on his social media platform Truth Social.
“We can do it the easy way or the hard way,” he said, adding: "The easy way is always better.”. A week previously, Bloomberg reported that the incoming administration had begun forming its sanctions strategy on Russia, one that included offering targeted relief to Russian oil producers to incentivise negotiations or expanding sanctions to ramp up pressure.
