Can you recall Joe Biden making a single move to bring peace between Ukraine and Russia? If you can, you’re in the minority. Under Biden, “supporting Ukraine” has meant one thing—sending billions in aid with no clear path to ending the war. But Donald Trump is taking a different approach, and it may be working.
On Friday, Trump dropped a bombshell announcement: He’s been in talks with Vladimir Putin to negotiate an end to the brutal conflict in Ukraine. In a post on Truth Social, Trump revealed:
“We had very good and productive discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia yesterday, and there is a very good chance that this horrible, bloody war can finally come to an end.”
This revelation comes at a critical moment, as Ukrainian forces face devastating setbacks. Russian troops have made aggressive advances in the Kursk region, forcing Ukrainian soldiers to retreat under increasingly dire conditions. The Wall Street Journal reports that Ukrainian forces have been withdrawing from multiple villages and even the town of Sudzha, in some cases on foot.
While Biden’s failed strategy has allowed the war to spiral out of control, Trump’s negotiations may be turning the tide. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin is open to a ceasefire—something he wasn’t willing to consider under Biden’s leadership. According to NBC News, Putin now “in theory” accepts the proposal but with conditions that heavily favor Russia’s position.
Putin’s demands are no small matter. He insists on the recognition of Crimea as Russian territory, a firm block on Ukraine’s NATO membership, and what he refers to as addressing the “root causes” of the war—language that signals Russia’s long-standing grievances over NATO’s expansion. While the West views these demands as a power move to keep Ukraine under Russian influence, Trump sees an opportunity.
Despite the high stakes, Trump remains optimistic, calling Putin’s latest remarks “a promising statement.” With the Biden administration still floundering, could Trump be the one to finally broker peace? The world is watching.
