Analysis: Path to Peace in Ukraine Remains Unclear Despite Trump's Promises
WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he has ruled out the possibility of deploying American ground troops in Ukraine but left the door open for providing air support. This potential action would be part of a broader agreement to end the ongoing war with Russia. The news was disseminated by Reuters and reported by BTA.
Trump's statement comes a day after he promised to provide security guarantees at an emergency summit held at the White House, with the goal of ending the conflict. Despite these assurances, the path to a lasting peace remains unclear as the U.S. and its allies continue to work on specifying the exact type of support that could be provided to Kyiv.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump clarified the U.S. role in a potential agreement.
"When it comes to security, (the Europeans) are ready to send troops on the ground. We're ready to help them with various things, especially, probably... by air", he said. The U.S. president did not provide more details about the nature or scale of this air support, leaving many questions unanswered.
Later, in a conversation with radio host Mark Levin, Trump described his approach to negotiating an end to the war as
"probably more instinct than process". This statement highlights his unconventional style and the lack of a clear, structured plan, which could raise additional concerns about the predictability of American diplomacy.
Immediately after the Ukrainian president's meetings in Washington, Russia carried out one of its largest air attacks against Ukraine in more than a month. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, the attack involved the launch of 270 drones and 10 missiles. Ukraine's Ministry of Energy reported that the strikes caused massive fires at energy facilities located in the central Poltava region, where the country's only operational oil refinery is located. This attack, carried out at a time of active diplomatic efforts, can be seen as a show of force by the Kremlin and a signal that Russian aggression will not stop easily.
Despite this escalation, Trump expressed hope that Russian President Vladimir Putin
"will be good"and will take steps to end the war. At the same time, he admitted there's a chance the Russian leader might not want to make a deal.
"I don't think it'll be a problem, to be honest. I think Putin's tired of it. I think everyone's tired of it, but you never know", Trump commented in the interview. These comments, while expressing optimism, contrast sharply with the aggressive actions of the Russian state and raise questions about the realism of the American position.
Analysis of the Situation:
Washington's diplomatic maneuvers are taking place against the backdrop of ongoing Russian aggression, which poses a serious challenge to international law and regional security. The U.S. security promise, while important, is cast into doubt by the lack of a clear plan for its implementation. Limiting American involvement to only air support and refusing to deploy ground troops could be perceived as a signal of limited commitment, which could potentially embolden the Kremlin to continue its actions.
At the same time, Trump's statement about Putin being "tired" of the war can be seen as an attempt to soften reality, as Russian military actions continue with high intensity, and the official rhetoric of the Kremlin shows no signs of retreat. Attacks on critical infrastructure, such as Ukraine's only refinery, are evidence of Russia's brutal strategy aimed at paralyzing the Ukrainian economy and undermining public morale.
The differences in approach between the U.S. and its European allies, who Trump claims are ready to send troops, further complicate the situation. The uncertainty about future support for Kyiv and the lack of a unified position among Western partners could give Russia an advantage and delay efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace.
Despite diplomatic promises, the reality on the battlefield shows that Russian aggression is not diminishing but is redirecting toward new targets, such as energy infrastructure. This underscores the need for concrete and decisive actions, not just declarations, to guarantee Ukraine's security and sovereignty.