Donald Trump says ending the war in Ukraine will be one of his top priorities once he officially becomes the 47th president of the United States in January.
He’s been pretty vocal about it, saying he could wrap things up in just 24 hours through direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump insists his past relationship with Putin gives him a unique advantage in negotiating peace and that he’s the only one who can get it done. He’s also said the US is pouring way too much money into the conflict and that it’s time for America to step back from global wars and focus on its own interests.
This idea plays right into the president-elect’s ‘America First’ philosophy, which has always been about cutting back US involvement in international conflicts. He’s often criticised the Biden administration for supporting Ukraine, particularly the military aid that’s been sent to keep the fight going. In Trump’s eyes, this kind of engagement just makes the US vulnerable and doesn’t bring any real benefits. Instead, he thinks negotiating peace quickly would be the best way to avoid further escalation and keep things from spiralling out of control.
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But while Trump’s supporters might love the sound of this promise, not everyone remains convinced. Critics argue that ending the war isn’t as simple as sitting down with Putin for a chat. The situation in Ukraine is hugely complicated, and Russia’s ambitions go far beyond just a ‘negotiated settlement’.
There’s also the concern that Trump’s willingness to cosy up to Putin could actually hurt Ukraine’s position in the talks and weaken global support for the country. So, the question is: Do you really have faith that Donald Trump can end the war in Ukraine?
This week has seen the battle-worn country deploying UK-designed Storm Shadow missiles into Russia’s heartland and Putin intensifying nuclear threats. Although the government has not officially confirmed their deployment, it is widely understood these weapons were used for the first time yesterday in a strike on Russian and North Korean forces in the Kursk region. It is hoped these missiles can turn the tide of the war in Ukraine’s favour but it marks a significant and potentially dangerous escalation in the UK’s involvement in the conflict.
President Putin’s threat of nuclear retaliation could be the empty bluster of a desperate leader trying to salvage his reputation, or it could be something more serious. Either way, after making such a significant threat, our government must be ready for whatever consequences may follow.