Moscow and Kyiv must independently end the war started by Vladimir Putin, President Donald Trump has told his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders, it has been reported.
Why It Matters
Trump’s campaign trail refrain he could end the war started by Putin within 24 hours disintegrated upon contact with reality, but after more than 100 days in office, the U.S. president had still appeared optimistic about his abilities as the dealmaker-in-chief.
Trump’s apparent justification for Putin’s absence from peace talks in Istanbul last week and the report that he considers it the job of Russia and Ukraine to broker peace will add to concerns he is walking away, only days after threatening sanctions if Russia refused to join Ukraine in declaring a 30-day, unconditional ceasefire.
What To Know
Following repeated promises he can be the intermediary to end the war, The New York Times said Trump had informed Zelensky and his allies that peace was up to Russia and Ukraine, which the paper suggested showed he was distancing himself from the process.
President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House on May 20, 2025, in Washington D.C. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House on May 20, 2025, in Washington D.C. JIM WATSON/Getty Images
Citing sources close to talks, the NYT also said Trump would not join European sanctions if Putin refused a ceasefire because of the trade opportunities that Russia offers.
A White House spokesperson told Newsweek: “There is a large economic opportunity cost to sanctions, in addition to enforcement costs. The president always wants to maximize economic opportunities for Americans, and sanctions hinder business opportunities.”
John Foreman, a former U.K. defense attache to Kyiv and Moscow, said Trump abandoning the sanctions-first policy will shock Europe who have been “played like suckers.”
Vuk Vuksanovic, an associate at the London School of Economics think tank LSE Ideas, told Newsweek, “Zelensky never had Trump in his corner as a full-fledged ally.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday that Washington was still providing Ukraine with weapons and Trump was trying to end a war that “neither side can win.”
Since their White House spat in February, Zelensky has agreed to Trump’s unconditional ceasefire proposal, signed a minerals deal and been to Turkey for talks called by Putin, which the Russian leader did not attend.
Concerns that Trump’s urgency for a swift deal would hand Putin an advantage were eased by the U.S. president threatening tariffs and sanctions on Russia if it refused to join Ukraine in declaring a 30-day, unconditional ceasefire such as on May 8.
But last week Trump appeared to justify the Russian leader’s no show at Istanbul talks and that “nothing’s going to happen until Putin and I get together.”
Having previously suggested he could walk away from talks, Trump said on Truth Social after his phone call with Putin that it was up to Russia and Ukraine to find a solution to the war themselves, a stance consolidated by the New York Times report.
Foreman, said Trump had abandoned his administration’s approach since January of shuttle diplomacy, getting a ceasefire and talks with threats of more sanctions and instead allowed Putin’s stalling.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky gives a press briefing in Kyiv on May 19, 2025. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky gives a press briefing in Kyiv on May 19, 2025. SERGEI SUPINSKY/Getty Images
Foreman told Newsweek on Wednesday that Trump’s suggestion that the U.S. is backing away from being a mediator shows also his instinct for self-preservation, having failed to deliver peace as he promised.
Moscow “is crowing and must be delighted, with Putin’s demands unchanged, his troops advancing having avoided a ceasefire and U.S. sanctions with a vague promise to talk, and having split the U.S. and Europe,” Foreman added.
Vuksanovic told Newsweek Trump is trying to minimize criticism of his role in the negotiations by passing the responsibility to Russia and Ukraine.
The best the Ukrainian leader could have hoped for was having Trump as a mediator who would try to end the war on the terms that were least painful for Ukraine, he said.
But Russia was just buying time to complete its mission in Ukraine’s Donbas region as Kyiv tried to persuade Trump that Moscow was the obstacle to a peace deal as it sought further U.S. assistance, added Vuksanovic.
Trump’s Sanctions Stance
When Putin refused to sign on to a 30-day ceasefire on Monday, Trump didn’t impose further sanctions, with the U.S. president reluctant to endanger the economic opportunities Russia presents, a White House official told the Times.
The U.K. government announcement that it would join the EU in a 17-sanction package against Russia did not mention the U.S. A European official told the NYT that Trump “never seemed invested” in joining the measures if Putin refused to go along with the unconditional ceasefire, with the threats “largely performative,” according to the paper.
It leaves a split between Washington and NATO members who are going ahead with sanctions. Foreman said this leaves Ukraine very vulnerable as Zelensky sought to keep the U.S. engaged and shifted from a position of security guarantees to a ceasefire to talks, only to be let down.
What People Are Saying
The New York Times reported that Trump had told Zelensky and other European leaders after his call with Putin that “Russia and Ukraine would have to find a solution to the war themselves” and also “backed away from his own threats to join a European pressure campaign that would include new sanctions.”
John Foreman, former U.K. defense attache to Moscow and Kyiv told Newsweek: [Trump’s] statement that the U.S. is backing away from being a mediator shows his instinct for self-preservation having failed to deliver peace as he promised.
“We shouldn’t be surprised. Trump has consistently used carrots rather than sticks. It is clear he values a relationship with Russia, and an odd friendship with Putin, over Ukraine.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told U.S. lawmakers Tuesday: “What the president is trying to do is end…a bloody, costly war that neither side can win,” adding Putin “hasn’t gotten a single concession, he hasn’t got a single sanction lifted.”
What Happens Next
Uncertainty is likely to grow over Trump’s commitment to ending the war if, as reported, he does not want to use sanctions as leverage over Putin if this means harming future economic ties. Foreman said that Trump has not yet stopped arms or intelligence sharing with Ukraine nor the current sanctions on Russia.
“As the killing continues, he may change course again,” he added.
Update 5/22/25, 5:05 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with a response from the White House.
