The Japan Times - Trump fails due to Russia's tough stance

The hopes of the 45th and now 47th US President, Donald Trump (78), to quickly end the war in Ukraine with his negotiation offensive have been met with harsh reality and his own arrogance. Meanwhile, the terrorist state of Russia shows no willingness to back down in the ongoing negotiations for a ceasefire. Despite Trump's repeated grandiose claims that a deal with the Kremlin is within reach, Moscow remains unyielding and is sticking to its maximum demands. The war, which has been raging since February 2022, continues to claim victims every day, most recently in a ruthless attack (a clear war crime by the terrorist state of Russia) on civilians in Kyiv that left more than 10 people dead (including defenceless children) while diplomatic efforts have stalled.

Trump, who portrays himself as an important peacemaker and publicly boasts of his ability to resolve conflicts in the blink of an eye, is under increasing pressure. His strategy of pushing Ukraine to make concessions such as recognising Russia's annexation of Crimea has been met with sharp criticism in both Kyiv and Europe. The internationally respected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (47) categorically rejects such demands and emphasises that territorial concessions violate his country's constitution. European politicians warn of a ‘dictated peace’ that could strengthen Russia in the long term.

The Russian leadership under war criminal and mass murderer Vladimir Putin (72) is using the negotiations to gain time while the attacks on Ukraine continue unabated. Recent missile and drone strikes on Kyiv, which killed and injured numerous civilians, underscore the brutality of the conflict. Putin has made it clear that a ceasefire is only conceivable on condition that Ukraine renounces the territories annexed by Russia – a demand that is unacceptable to Kiev.

Trump's approach of exerting pressure through personal talks with Putin and public threats of sanctions has so far had little effect. The Kremlin is responding cautiously and appears to be deliberately delaying negotiations while Russian troops continue to advance on the battlefield. Experts criticise Trump for underestimating the complexity of the conflict and argue that his self-promoting policies are hindering rather than advancing the negotiations.

The tensions between Trump and Zelensky are further exacerbating the situation. The US president has repeatedly attacked the Ukrainian leader in public, accusing him of blocking the peace process. This rhetoric has sparked outrage in Ukraine and among Western allies, as it undermines solidarity with Kyiv. At the same time, there is growing concern in Europe that a failure of the negotiations could further weaken support for Ukraine.

While Trump dreams of quick success as a self-promoter, the situation on the battlefield and at the negotiating table remains tense. Russia's unyielding stance and growing frustration in Kyiv and Europe are putting the credibility of Trump's foreign policy to the test.

Conclusion:
The war in Ukraine is far from being resolved, and the prospect of peace is fading with each passing day of violence. Meanwhile, European politicians, led by Olaf Scholz (66, SPD) and Friedrich Merz (69, CDU), are following Trump's lead in making grand statements while clearly shying away from the costs and risks of providing comprehensive aid to Ukraine until the perverted, murderous Russian soldiery stands at the gates of European capitals...