By James Oliphant, national political correspondent |
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When a cavalcade of European leaders descended upon the White House on Monday to discuss the war in Ukraine, it was clear, yet again, that President Donald Trump remains the hub of the wheel when it comes to securing a peace accord. But what if that's a wheel spinning its way to nowhere? |
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Latest U.S. politics headlines |
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Trump's strategy for ending the conflict was called increasingly into question after a pair of meetings in which the U.S. president left observers scratching their heads as to what his goals for the war-torn region really are. First, Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday in a much-hyped summit that failed to produce the ceasefire that Trump had said he wanted. While the president described the Alaska confab as productive, it was hard to see what had changed. And despite a backdrop behind the two leaders that proclaimed "Pursuing Peace," the avenue toward achieving that peace remained unclear at best. After the talks, Trump dropped his ceasefire demand, suggesting he was aligning himself with Putin's worldview. That prompted European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to high tail it to Washington to ensure the president didn't sell Ukraine out to Russia by promising it would cede territory. After the second round of talks, Trump made clear that Ukraine joining NATO was off the table, although he did make a vague pledge about "security guarantees" from the U.S. potentially similar to those detailed in NATO's treaty. He ruled out, however, American troops on the ground. |
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Predictably, Russia was not thrilled with the idea of "NATO-lite" in Ukraine despite Trump asserting that Putin was on board. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called talks about post-war security measures without Russia at the table a "road to nowhere." The Europeans left the White House with Trump promising to arrange a further meeting between Putin and Zelenskiy - perhaps followed by another one in which the U.S. would serve as mediator. Time and place TBD. But even with all the comings-and-goings and plane flights and pomp and ceremony, the war seemingly isn't any closer to an end than it was a week ago – as Russia's continued attacks on Ukraine demonstrate. Trump told Fox News he was no longer sure Putin even wants a peace accord – which was quite the needle scratch. Trump made resolving the conflict, along with the war in Gaza, a bedrock campaign promise last year despite the fact that the vow seemed to fly in the face of his "America First" ethos. Both wars now threaten to become a drag on his second term even as he tries to shift responsibility for the stalemates by continually blaming his predecessor, Joe Biden, for the conflicts in the first place. Speaking of needles, on Tuesday Trump was spinning discs of another kind. He invited the White House press corps to the new patio adjacent to the Rose Garden where he was acting as DJ, playing a mix of his favorite songs over the just-installed sound system. At least there, all was his to control. |
Many Americans think Trump is too close to Russia |
Follow Reuters/Ipsos polling on the president's approval ratings here. |
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There was also little progress for Trump on the Iran front. Iran's foreign minister this week said the time had not yet arrived for "effective" negotiations with the U.S. over its nuclear program. And the potential remains for another strike on its nuclear facilities by the U.S. or Israel. |
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U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Finland's President Alexander Stubb, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pose for a family photo amid negotiations to end the Russian war in Ukraine, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 18, 2025. REUTERS/Alexander Drago TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY |
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- Aug. 22: Republican National Committee summer meeting in Atlanta
- Sep. 9: UN General Assembly begins
- Sept. 16-18: Trump makes state visit to Britain
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