The Trump administration is rushing at full speed to bring an end to the Russia-Ukraine war. But the tremors of US President Donald Trump’s moves are being felt globally. In just a few days, Trump has pulled the rug from under Ukraine’s feet. He has made friends with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He has practically shunned Europe from the peace talks. And he has brought Saudi Arabia into the picture to play a key role in the talks. This is Ukraine’s endgame in the making.

There’s a flurry of activity in recent days as Trump enters mission mode to end the Russia-Ukraine war, as he had promised before his election.

Two urgent meetings are taking place almost simultaneously. The first is in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov are meeting to discuss Ukraine. The second, in Paris, France, where European leaders who have been left behind by Trump desperately gathered to navigate the tricky situation. Meanwhile, Ukraine is absent from both discussions and is struggling to maintain visibility in diplomatic manoeuvres that shape its own future. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is not sitting by idly. Zelensky has reached out to the UAE, not only to sign economic deals but also to leverage Emirati influence with the Saudis, Russians, and Americans to hear his pleas.

And can you blame him for panicking? Under Trump, the United States has done a complete 180. Three events within a week have laid it bare.

Last week, Trump held a lengthy phone call with Putin, where everything was discussed: not just Ukraine, but artificial intelligence, the Middle East and Soviet Russia’s sacrifice in World War 2.........

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