U.S. reconsiders Ukraine peace deal strategy, looks to pressure Moscow and Kyiv - Reuters

Investing.com -- Senior officials from the Trump administration are reconsidering their approach towards securing a peace deal in Ukraine, as the likelihood of achieving this in the next few months appears slim. New plans are being formulated to exert pressure on both Kyiv and Moscow, according to Reuters, citing two U.S. officials.

The Trump administration had initially aimed to achieve a full ceasefire by April or May, hoping to broker a lasting peace deal in the months following. However, these agreements do not seem to be forthcoming, suggesting that the three-year conflict may continue and Ukraine may require further Western support for its military operations.

Recently, U.S. officials have expressed private concerns over Kyiv’s handling of the negotiations, particularly their resistance to a minerals deal with Washington and the progression of peace talks. However, frustration has been growing with Moscow as well.

Over the weekend, White House and State Department officials acknowledged Russian President Vladimir Putin’s active resistance to Washington’s peace efforts. They discussed potential economic or diplomatic punishments that could push Russia towards a deal.

President Trump has previously expressed trust in Putin and his commitment to peace. However, the White House has grown skeptical of Putin’s intentions in recent days.

Despite initial hopes that economic pressure would move Moscow closer to an agreement, senior advisers including Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and General Keith Kellogg, the administration’s Ukraine envoy, are questioning how much Putin can be swayed without significant concessions from the U.S. and Europe.

Over the past months, Washington has pressured Kyiv and moved closer to many of Moscow’s foreign policy positions. However, Putin’s demands, such as the rollback of U.S. and NATO military activity in Europe and no peacekeepers deploying to Ukraine as part of a deal, are unlikely to be met by the U.S., Ukraine, or Europe.

In addition to the difficulties with Russia, Trump has also expressed frustration with Ukraine, accusing Zelenskiy of trying to back out of the minerals deal. The president views this agreement as a key part of bringing peace to Ukraine.

U.S. officials are currently considering amending some parts of the proposed deal to make it more appealing to Kyiv’s economic interests. They have also attempted to broker a ceasefire for energy infrastructure and for the Black Sea, but these deals have not yet been implemented. Despite initial agreements, Ukraine and Russia continue to attack each other.

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