Flush with the success of ending the war in Gaza, at least for now, US President Donald Trump is turning his attention to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

But bringing peace to Europe will require a different kind of diplomacy.

Trump promised to bring peace to Ukraine on “day one” of his presidency. Credit: Marija Ercegovac

Stopping the war there essentially means persuading Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop fighting – Ukraine has long since accepted in principle the idea of a ceasefire, freezing the line in place.

Trump has already offered Putin plenty of carrots for peace. Now he seems to be reaching for a stick. But will it be enough?

His main stick is the Tomahawk missile, a five-metre-long, low-flying weapon usually used by the US and Royal Navy submarines and cruisers to strike land targets.

It is a fearsome weapon, and its precision, the size of its warhead, and above all, its 2400-kilometre range would add considerably to the danger facing Russia’s military.

It would allow Ukraine to target the factories and launch sites of the cruise missiles and drones that nightly terrorise Kyiv, wreak havoc on Russian command and control, or deliver........

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