Will Trump’s peace-making efforts increase the likelihood of a bigger war?
While the US tries to present itself as an honest broker engaged in shuttle diplomacy, it is difficult not to perceive its efforts as favouring the Russian side. Even before negotiations with Russia had started, the US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, said Ukraine’s NATO membership and the possibility of recapturing territories occupied by Russia were off limits.
After two months of botched peace-making efforts, the administration of Donald Trump has made little progress in bringing the war in Ukraine closer to an end. Simultaneously, the new US government has sought to disengage from Europe and exposed its weakness. If Trump decides to put pressure on Ukraine to end the war on terms that favour Russia, it will make a bigger war in Europe practically inevitable.
May 6, 2025 -
Yulia Kazdobina
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Hot TopicsIssue 3 2025Magazine
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on February 28th 2025. The entire world watched as Trump and Vice President JD Vance publicly humiliated Zelenskyy and accused him of not being grateful for the American support. Photo: (CC) White House (https://www.whitehouse.gov/gallery/president-trump-hosts-president-of-ukraine-volodymyr-zelenskyy/)

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