Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump’s special envoy, has indicated that the war between Russia and Ukraine is unlikely to end this year. According to Witkoff, the current circumstances do not suggest an imminent resolution.
This viewpoint is seen as a setback for Trump, who has consistently said he would quickly end the war. European leaders have voiced their doubts about the trustworthiness of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump’s warnings have been ineffective. Neither Russia nor Ukraine seems to be responding to Trump’s threats. Ukraine has started its own missile production, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that these missiles are highly effective.
Russia is persistently attacking Ukraine, aiming to capture the entire Donbas region. Russia is conducting intense attacks using missiles and drones.
Challenges to a Ceasefire:
1. According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the Ukrainian President does not have sufficient authority to negotiate. Russia questions Zelenskyy’s legitimacy. This is a key issue hindering negotiations. Trump is attempting to arrange discussions between Putin and Zelenskyy.
2. Russia does not want to give back the land it has captured during the conflict. Specifically, Russia wants to keep the Donbas region. Russia is also demanding official recognition of Crimea. Moreover, Russia wants Ukraine to not join NATO. While the United States has indicated it might consider this, it has also offered security guarantees to Ukraine, further complicating the situation.