Senior Trump administration officials are set to meet with European leaders this week to discuss potential negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, nearly three years after Russia’s invasion, reports The Geopost.
Trump-Putin Talks and Shift in U.S. Policy
The discussions follow reports that President Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin about possible steps toward a settlement. However, Trump declined to confirm details, saying:
“We’re trying to end that war. It’s a war that would have never happened if I were president. But we’re making progress.”
U.S. Strategy: Pressuring Russia, Reducing Aid to Ukraine
National Security Adviser Mike Waltz stated that Trump is considering tariffs and sanctions to push Putin to negotiate, while also seeking to scale back U.S. financial aid to Ukraine.
“We need to recoup those costs, and that is going to be a partnership with the Ukrainians in terms of their natural resources and their oil and gas,” Waltz told NBC’s Meet the Press.
Additionally, he stressed that Europe must take a greater role in supporting Ukraine’s defense.
Key U.S. Delegation to Europe
Vice President JD Vance is in Paris today for an AI summit, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and special envoy Keith Kellogg will head to the Munich Security Conference later this week, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will lead Kyiv’s delegation.
Hegseth is also scheduled to join NATO defense ministers in Brussels on Wednesday for discussions on military aid to Ukraine.
Kyiv Under Pressure as Russia Advances
Despite heavy Russian casualties, experts suggest Putin has little incentive to negotiate, given his control over domestic opposition and Russia’s economic resilience.
Meanwhile, Trump’s solo diplomacy approach—potentially excluding Ukraine from talks—contrasts with the Biden administration’s stance of ensuring Kyiv has a seat at the table.
Ukraine’s Countermove: A Strong Presence in Munich
Andriy Yermak, top adviser to Zelenskyy, said Ukraine’s delegation in Munich will emphasize security guarantees to prevent future Russian aggression.
With Kyiv striving to maintain U.S. support, the upcoming meetings will be crucial in shaping the next phase of the war and international strategy.
