Even before Donald Trump’s presidency began, he claimed boldly he would end Russia’s war in Ukraine within 24 hours. Yet over one year later, peace remains nowhere in sight. On the contrary, rising global oil prices and even temporary easing of sanctions on Russia following the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran only further fuel Moscow's aggression and determination.

In an interview with Le Monde, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky repeated the obvious: that there is no evidence that Moscow is genuinely willing to end the war. “The United States believes that Putin wants to end the war. Here, we have completely different views,” he said. 

Manifestations can guide thinking, but they become dangerous when they substitute for reality; effective strategy begins with a clear-eyed assessment of facts rather than aspirations. And the facts suggest that the Kremlin is directing the White House into a trap.

The EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas has correctly identified this as a classic hallmark of Russia’s negotiating style, “demanding something that has never been theirs.” Russia is not seeking a genuine exit from war, but a favorable equilibrium from which it can sustain its destructive campaign against the West indefinitely.

The three completed rounds of U.S.-mediated negotiations demonstrate a consistent pattern: process without progress. The first round established a trilateral framework but failed to bridge fundamental gaps on territory, ceasefire terms and security guarantees. 

The second, in........

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