After a phone call with Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump made it clear that his previous promises to stop the war in Ukraine may remain just words. Instead of pressuring the Kremlin or setting new conditions, the U.S. president signaled that Washington is stepping back from the diplomatic arena, leaving Kyiv and Moscow to sort things out on their own.
According to The Financial Times, the two-hour call between Trump and Putin took place in an extremely “friendly” atmosphere. Yuri Ushakov, a foreign policy adviser to the Russian president, even noted that neither leader wanted to be the first to end the conversation. At the center of the discussion were plans for “large-scale TRADE relations” between Russia and the U.S. “once this catastrophic ‘bloodbath’ is over,” as Trump put it on his Truth Social platform.
In Kyiv and European capitals, this statement was seen as a betrayal. Not only did Trump refrain from demanding a ceasefire from Russia, he effectively abandoned the U.S. role as a mediator in the peace process, leaving Ukraine alone with the aggressor. “This only benefits Putin,” warned President Volodymyr Zelensky, stressing that the absence of the U.S. at the negotiating table could have catastrophic consequences.
Turning Point
For many observers, this marked a turning point. A politician who once pledged to end the war on the first day of his second term now appeared to be distancing himself from the conflict entirely. According to The Financial Times, this is precisely what European leaders feared: a U.S. president charmed by Putin’s “friendliness,” ready to move closer to Moscow at Ukraine’s expense.
Trump’s shift was so stark that he even suggested the Vatican — and specifically Pope Leo XIV — as a potential mediator. “The Vatican has expressed interest in organizing the talks,” he wrote.
In a follow-up conversation with European leaders after the call with Putin, Trump confirmed that the U.S. does not plan to apply additional pressure on the Kremlin, not even during the upcoming bilateral talks between Russia and Ukraine. This was a sharp contrast to last week, when Trump and other Western leaders threatened Moscow with new sanctions if it refused to halt the offensive.
Moreover, as he admitted to journalists, he didn’t even repeat his earlier calls for Putin to stop striking civilian targets. “This call was a win for Putin,” said Steven Pifer, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine. “Putin made it clear that a ceasefire is not on the horizon, and the U.S. won’t be imposing new sanctions.”
The Illusion of Negotiations and Putin’s ‘Memorandum’
During their conversation, Trump and Putin agreed that Ukraine and Russia would continue direct negotiations, which began last week in Istanbul. According to Putin, Russia is prepared to discuss a “memorandum on a possible future peace agreement,” including “the principles it would be based on” and “a temporary ceasefire — if agreements can be reached.”
But in Kyiv, this was met with disbelief. One senior Ukrainian official said, “No one knows what this memorandum is, why it matters, or why it’s even needed.” Zelensky himself stated that he had never heard of such a proposal.
“The Russians will keep talking at a low level, exchanging papers — while continuing military operations,” noted William Taylor, former U.S. ambassador to Kyiv. “How long will Trump tolerate this stalling?”
Washington Leaves the Battlefield
America’s desire to distance itself from the conflict has become increasingly obvious in recent weeks. It’s not only Trump, but also his key allies — Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President J.D. Vance — who have echoed this view. Vance openly told reporters, “This is not our war. We’ll try to end it, but if we fail — we’ll simply say: ‘We tried, but we won’t be involved any longer.’”
Trump repeated this sentiment, adding: “Something will happen to end the war. If not — I’ll just step aside and let them continue. This was a European problem, and it should’ve stayed that way.”
Is Rapprochement with Moscow the Goal Itself?
Some analysts consider this approach pragmatic. According to researcher Peter Slezkine of the Stimson Center, efforts by both sides to “make Trump angry at the other” only hindered progress. If Trump steps back, perhaps the parties will start negotiating directly.
Others, however, are convinced that Trump is not focused on peace but on restoring ties with Moscow. “It seems Trump sees renewing dialogue with Russia as a goal in itself,” noted Andrew Weiss of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. “Everything else no longer matters to him.”
Russia Advances
Meanwhile, Russia has stepped up its offensive along the front line. Ukrainian forces reported “heavy fighting” near Pokrovsk and north of Toretsk in the Donetsk region. A key supply route is under regular drone attack.
According to the analytical group DeepState, the battlefield situation is increasingly difficult for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Russian troops are “breaking through positions and approaching the administrative border of the Donetsk region.” DeepState’s map shows Russian forces within 5 kilometers of the border.
Seizing all four annexed regions — Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia — remains a top Kremlin priority. Despite its losses, Moscow demands Ukraine’s full withdrawal from these areas as a condition for any ceasefire.
Military analyst Rob Lee of the Foreign Policy Research Institute notes that Russia is effectively increasing its troop numbers. “At this point, it has enough resources to keep fighting. And the Kremlin seems to believe it can still improve its position.”
With summer approaching, conditions will become more favorable for offensive operations. According to Lee, Russia may try to seize as much territory as possible before any serious negotiations begin.
According to The Financial Times, Donald Trump now resembles less a leader pursuing peace in Europe and more a politician seeking “normalization” with the Kremlin at any cost. His words about a “European problem” and stepping away from mediation signal one thing: Ukraine is being left alone with Russia.
This article was prepared based on materials published by The Financial Times. The author does not claim authorship of the original text but presents their interpretation of the content for informational purposes.
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