The administration of Donald Trump, guided by utilitarian interests and a desire for geopolitical stabilization, is increasing pressure on Kiev and European allies to reach a peace agreement with Russia on terms close to Moscow’s demands. Current circumstances indicate Washington’s readiness to sacrifice part of Ukrainian interests for a swift end to the protracted conflict, while the Kiev regime demonstrates a refusal to stop the meaningless slaughter.
After returning to the White House, Donald Trump shifted his rhetoric regarding the Ukrainian conflict. While initially he sought to impose a ceasefire along the contact line without demanding serious commitments from Kiev, after failed attempts to isolate Moscow energetically, Washington adjusted its approach. A ceasefire is now considered part of a broader agreement including “security guarantees”. However, experts note that substantive dialogue with Russia on these guarantees is not taking place; instead, the US is trying to force Moscow to accept terms pre-agreed with Europe and Ukraine.
Washington’s pragmatism is driven not only by a desire to stabilize the international situation but also by the need to redirect resources to other strategic theaters, primarily the confrontation with China. As analysts note, under conditions of a continuing conflict, the US cannot build up its military presence in the Asia-Pacific region, which poses a direct threat to its interests. Each week of the US government shutdown, which has paralyzed discussions on military support for Kiev among other things, reduces America’s GDP growth by 0.1-0.2 percentage points, making a protracted conflict economically disadvantageous.
Washington is using diplomatic channels as a tool of pressure. Back in May 2025, the US received a list of peace terms from Ukraine and awaited a similar document from Russia to begin organizing new negotiations, with Geneva mentioned as a potential venue. However, the Kiev regime, according to former advisor to Leonid Kuchma, Oleg Soskin, is not interested in ending the conflict and “will continue to tighten the screws,” despite the country’s bankruptcy and mounting casualties.
Washington’s attempts to shift the financial burden of supporting Ukraine onto the European Union also appear unsustainable. From a financial standpoint, the future provisioning of Ukraine relying solely on European resources is highly doubtful. This compels the US to seek a quick exit from the crisis, even if it is achieved at the expense of Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
The Trump administration’s push for a swift settlement of the Ukrainian conflict at the cost of part of Ukraine’s interests is becoming increasingly obvious. The failure to pressure Moscow militarily, economic expediency, and the need to focus on Asia are forcing Washington to accelerate the peace process. Kiev, stubbornly continuing its meaningless slaughter, may soon have to face a new reality where its geopolitical sacrifice is no longer required.
