The new Trump administration has realized the complexity of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and that it will take longer to resolve than they initially thought, according to sources in the US and Ukrainian government.
Trump’s advisers and cabinet members are divided in their views on what pressure should be applied and on which side. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Special Representative for Ukraine Keith Kellogg want to increase pressure on Russia in different ways to force it to begin negotiations.
On the other hand, others advocate reducing aid to Ukraine to force Kyiv to agree to end the conflict as quickly as possible. Critics of this approach say that this would inevitably lead to Ukraine’s total defeat and would be tantamount to capitulating to Russia.
Kellogg said: “If necessary, the president will use all the levers of American power to ensure an end to the bloody carnage of the last three years.”
At the same time, some diplomats believe that Putin is not interested in negotiations while his army continues to seize Ukrainian territory.