The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly acknowledged that ongoing peace talks between Russia and Ukraine have become a prolonged and arduous process, with little sign of a near-term breakthrough. According to a report by Politico citing senior White House officials, while Trump continues to assure his allies that negotiations remain on track, there is growing recognition within his administration that the talks are dragging on far longer than initially anticipated.
During a public appearance at a Washington D.C. museum on Friday, Trump, who campaigned on promises to swiftly end the war, admitted for the first time that achieving peace in Ukraine is proving significantly more difficult than he expected. Officials cited by Politico said this acknowledgment reflects what the president has already conceded privately in recent weeks.
The same report also sought to clarify a cryptic Truth Social post by Trump on Thursday, which many interpreted as a veiled threat to provide Ukraine with long-range missile capabilities. The post read, “It is very hard, if not impossible, to win a war without attacking an invader’s country … There is no chance of winning!” and included criticism of former President Joe Biden for not enabling Ukraine to “fight back.”
White House officials emphasized that the statement was not intended as a direct threat against Russia but rather as an assessment of Ukraine’s lack of leverage in the ongoing negotiations. One official stated that Trump believes he holds more influence over Ukraine and European partners than over Moscow, which is why any potential agreement would likely lean toward Russian terms.
Following his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, last week, Trump signaled a willingness to adopt Russia’s position that the conflict should conclude with a negotiated, long-term settlement rather than a rapid, unconditional ceasefire that merely freezes the frontlines. This represented a significant concession from the U.S. president, though it has largely gone unnoticed as debate intensifies in Western capitals over proposed security guarantees for Ukraine.