Press service of the President of Ukraine / flickr.com / Trump White House
The new administration of US President-elect Donald Trump has changed its rhetoric on the timeline for ending the war in Ukraine. While Trump had previously spoken of the possibility of “ending the conflict in 24 hours”, his team has now admitted that it will take several months. This was reported by the Financial Times, citing anonymous sources among European officials.
The position of the Trump team
Representatives of the Trump team have held a series of conversations with European partners in recent weeks, during which they acknowledged that a quick resolution of the conflict is unrealistic. At the same time, they stressed that support for Ukraine would continue after the inauguration on 20 January.
“The whole team is obsessed with power and wants to appear strong,” the source told the FT, adding that the Trump administration is keen to avoid comparisons with the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Why is this important for Ukraine?
The change in Trump’s rhetoric has been welcomed by European partners, who believe that continued US support for Kyiv is key to strengthening Ukraine’s position in the negotiations.
According to one European official, allies are working to convince Trump’s team that military assistance should continue:
- The goal is to strengthen Ukraine’s position in possible negotiations with Moscow.
- The argument is that without military support, Kyiv will not be able to effectively put pressure on Russia to achieve a favourable peace.
Since the war began in February 2022, the United States has provided more than $175 billion in aid to Ukraine. However, the Trump administration has announced its intention to change its approach to support.
Despite Trump’s statements about wanting to end the war quickly, his team recognises that the conflict requires a comprehensive approach and time.
Once in office, Donald Trump will face the challenge of finding a balance between support for Ukraine, diplomatic dialogue with Russia, and the expectations of his own electorate. It is important for Ukraine to use this time to strengthen its position both on the battlefield and at the negotiating table.
