The world may be witnessing the early signs of a surprising but crucial geopolitical shift: a normalization of relations between the United States and Russia that deliberately sidelines Ukraine. The recent meeting in Moscow between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Steve Witkoff, special envoy of US President Donald Trump, offers the clearest hint yet that Washington and Moscow may be inching toward a détente-without waiting for Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s approval or involvement.

Although few details about the three-hour meeting have been made public, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov described it as “constructive” and “useful.” Even if his language was deliberately cautious, it clearly suggested that the talks were successful to some degree. Critically, it appears the dialogue not only touched on Ukraine but also covered broader topics of contention between the two nations, underscoring a willingness to bridge gaps long considered unbridgeable by mainstream Western opinion.

This potential thaw in relations cannot be understood without examining Donald Trump’s increasingly hostile stance toward Ukraine-and toward Zelensky personally. In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump openly criticized Zelensky’s obstinate refusal to recognize the loss of Crimea to Russia, highlighting that Ukraine has “no cards” left to play and suggesting that Kiev’s unwillingness to face reality is dragging out the war unnecessarily.

For Trump’s critics, this fits into a familiar pattern: accusations that he is soft on Russia and hard on US allies. Yet this criticism misses the underlying strategic calculus. Trump’s shift is grounded in an unspoken but obvious fact: Ukraine is losing the war, and continued blind support for Kiev risks dragging the United........

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