America has been intimately involved in the war in Ukraine. But now everything is changing fast.
And a massive development in the Russia-Ukraine war has given Donald Trump huge ramifications.
Trump’s Diplomacy Advances Ukraine Peace Talks, Prioritizing U.S. Interests
President Donald Trump’s efforts to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine are poised to minimize U.S. financial and military commitments while advancing American interests, as Russian President Vladimir Putin signaled openness to meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, either bilaterally or with Trump, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
The development follows Trump’s August 15 summit with Putin in Alaska and an August 18 White House meeting with Zelenskyy and European leaders, where discussions focused on security guarantees for Ukraine without U.S. ground troops.
Putin Open to Talks, U.S. Limits Role
Lavrov, speaking to VGTRK on August 19, said, “We do not reject any forms of work, neither bilateral nor trilateral. Russian President Putin has repeatedly spoken about this,” emphasizing a “serious approach” to any talks. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Trump’s role, stating, “Following the encouraging conversations yesterday, President Trump spoke with President Putin by phone, and he agreed to begin the next phase of the peace process, a meeting between President Putin and President Zelensky, which would be followed if necessary by a trilateral meeting.”
No date or location has been set, though French President Emmanuel Macron proposed Geneva, Switzerland, as a neutral venue, noting, “I’m pushing for Geneva.”
Trump’s Cost-Saving Strategy
The arrangement aligns with Trump’s strategy to limit U.S. involvement, as he reiterated on August 19 during a Fox & Friends interview, ruling out American troops in Ukraine: “Well, you have my assurance. I’m president and I’m just trying to stop people from being k*lled.”
Instead, Trump emphasized European leadership, stating, “I think that the European nations are going to take a lot of the burden. We’re going to help them, and we’re going to make it very secure.” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz indicated progress, telling reporters on August 18 that a Putin-Zelenskyy meeting could occur within two weeks, reducing the need for U.S. military resources.
European Commitment and U.S. Benefits
Zelenskyy, during the White House talks, emphasized the importance of U.S. support for security guarantees, saying, “Security in Ukraine depends on the United States and on you and on those leaders who are with us in our hearts.”
However, Trump’s focus on air support and coordination—rather than boots on the ground—ensures minimal U.S. expenditure, with a proposed $90 billion European-funded security package, including American firepower and Ukrainian drone purchases, further offsetting costs.
European leaders like Macron and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized their commitment, with Macron stating, “You can be sure that the Europeans are very lucid about the fact that they have their fair share in the security guarantees for Ukraine, but their own security is clearly at stake.”
Diplomatic Progress with Minimal U.S. Cost
The potential Putin-Zelenskyy meeting, potentially in Geneva, follows Trump’s diplomatic push, including a call with Putin on August 18, which he conducted privately to avoid tension with European allies.
Social media posts on X reflect optimism among some Americans for Trump’s cost-saving approach, with users praising his focus on avoiding “another endless war.”
