Washington, Aug 13 (AP) US President Donald Trump, who made the bold claim during his reelection campaign that he could resolve the Ukraine conflict within 24 hours, has faced numerous challenges since taking office on January 20. His attempts to broker peace among Ukraine, led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Russia, under President Vladimir Putin, have proven difficult amidst shifting political dynamics.
A highly anticipated summit between Trump and Putin, scheduled for Friday in Alaska, might prove instrumental in efforts to end the 3.5-year-old conflict.
"At the end of that meeting, probably the first two minutes, I'll know exactly whether or not a deal can be made," Trump stated on Monday. Trump's approach to Zelenskyy and Putin has notably shifted over the course of this year.
Initially, during Trump’s second term, his tone towards Putin was accommodating, reflecting the admiration he has often expressed for the Russian leader. Nevertheless, as Putin refused to accept an unconditional truce proposed by Trump, Trump's frustration with Putin's stance on US peace initiatives has grown, criticizing the Russian leader for exacerbating the war.
Until recently, Trump suggested Russia was more inclined toward a resolution than Ukraine. However, after a heated exchange with Zelenskyy in February, Trump’s attitude seemed to mellow, which led to his promise to supply Ukraine with Patriot air defense missiles through a NATO-coordinated deal.
The war continues to escalate, with Russia's larger forces maintaining pressure along the 1,000-kilometer front line, costing thousands of lives on both sides. The UN reported that June marked the deadliest month in the past three years for Ukrainian civilians, with 232 fatalities and 1,343 injuries.
A look at Trump’s statements during his second term: On January 31, Trump asserted, “We want to end that war. That war would have not started if I was president.” He emphasized that his administration had engaged in "very serious" discussions with Russia and suggested significant measures towards ending the conflict could be taken soon with Putin.
In a controversial February 19 post, Trump criticized Zelenskyy on his Truth Social platform, referring to him as “A Dictator without Elections,” prompting backlash from across the US political spectrum.
On February 28, Trump and Vice President JD Vance reprimanded Zelenskyy for his lack of appreciation towards the US’s support after he confronted Vance on diplomatic efforts with Putin. The disagreement culminated in a suspension of Ukraine’s military aid as Trump urged Zelenskyy to pursue peace.
By March 30, Trump maintained his trust in Putin’s commitment to potential peace deals. However, his trust began to wane as Russian assaults on Ukraine intensified. On April 24, he publicly urged Putin to cease missile strikes on Kyiv via a Truth Social post.
On April 29, Trump expressed empathy for the losses sustained by Ukrainians. This came after a meeting with Zelenskyy at a global summit, reflecting a change in demeanour.
Trump's perception of Putin further deteriorated on May 25 when he remarked via Truth Social, “I've always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY!”
During a closed NATO summit meeting on June 25, Trump’s softened rhetoric towards Zelenskyy persisted, and there was talk of sending advanced defense systems to Ukraine.
On July 8, Trump voiced his dissatisfaction with Putin’s misleading assurances, warning that Moscow’s ongoing conflict was claiming many lives. This led to a commitment to bolster weapon supplies to Ukraine despite previous pauses due to depleted US military reserves.
July brought more discontent: on the 13th, Trump publicly criticized Putin for breaking past assurances and launching nighttime bombings. The following day, Trump promised heightened economic pressure on Russia if peace talks floundered within 50 days.
Despite improved relations with Zelenskyy, Trump’s rebuke of the Ukrainian leader remained on August 11, dismissing the idea of Zelenskyy attending the upcoming meeting with Putin. Trump challenged Zelenskyy’s reluctance to negotiate territorial concessions, despite having resorted to war.
Trump noted, “I was a little bothered by the fact that Zelenskyy was saying, Well, I have to get “constitutional approval.” I mean, he's got approval to go into war and kill everybody, but he needs approval to do a land swap?” He added, “I thought it was very respectful that the president of Russia is coming to our country as opposed to us going to his country or even a third-party place.” (AP) NPK NPK
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