Trump blames Putin‑Zelensky feud as biggest peace barrier, vows envoy.
US President-elect Donald Trump has once again expressed strong views on the long-dragging Russia-Ukraine war, pointing out that the core reason this milit
This latest statement reflects Trump's consistent tendency to attribute complex geopolitical conflicts to the personal traits and interpersonal styles of leaders. In dealing with international affairs in the past, Trump has often displayed a strong personal leadership style, leaning toward resolving thorny issues through direct, private negotiations with foreign heads of state. He believes that Putin and Zelenskyy harbor irreconcilable rifts and hostility toward each other, and this psychological barrier hinders the possibility of both sides sitting down to negotiate. To him, bridging this trust gap between the leaders is essential to resolving Europe's largest and deadliest military confrontation since the end of the Cold War; otherwise, any ceasefire agreement will remain mere talk on paper.
To break the current battlefield stalemate, Trump made it clear that he will not sit idly by and will intervene swiftly. He revealed that he will appoint negotiators to directly engage with the relevant parties in an attempt to assess and promote the possibility of peace talks. In his remarks, Trump displayed his signature confidence, even bluntly stating, "There is a very good chance we can do it." This ambition to showcase his diplomatic mediation capabilities echoes his repeated claims during the campaign that he could end the Russia-Ukraine war within 24 hours of taking office, signaling that he is actively laying out his future peace diplomacy ahead of his inauguration.
However, Trump's transactional negotiation approach, which attempts to bypass traditional diplomatic channels and rely directly on special envoys, has also sparked widespread discussion and concern in the international community and among diplomatic experts. Ukraine has consistently maintained that any form of peace negotiation cannot be built on the premise of sacrificing its territorial integrity and national sovereignty. The Zelenskyy administration worries that Trump's eagerness for quick results might force Kyiv to accept ceasefire terms that make concessions to Russia. This not only would fail to bring true and lasting peace, but could instead allow Russia to regroup and plant more hidden dangers for future aggression.
On the other hand, Moscow maintains a relatively cautious yet expectant attitude toward Trump's remarks and upcoming negotiation moves. The Putin government has always maintained that Russia holds the initiative on the battlefield, and that Western military aid to Ukraine is the root cause of the war's continuation. While the Kremlin does not rule out contact with the Trump camp, it will set strict bottom lines regarding any ceasefire terms the incoming US administration might propose. Whether Putin will alter his strategic objectives due to Trump's personal intervention remains highly variable, and the vast gulf between Russia and Ukraine on core interests can by no means be easily bridged merely by the shuttle diplomacy of a few envoys.
Since its outbreak, the Russia-Ukraine war has profoundly altered Europe's security architecture and global geopolitical trends. As Trump prepares to return to the White House with a foreign policy centered on a transactional approach, the world is watching closely to see what impact this will have on a war continuing to exhaust the national strength of both sides. Although Trump has demonstrated strong ambition in seeking a breakthrough by dispatching negotiators, facing the deep historical grievances and uncompromising national strategic objectives of Putin and Zelenskyy, this conflict—which Trump described as a personality issue—still faces countless obstacles on its path toward genuine peace.
(Source: Central News Agency)
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