President Trump is pushing hard to end the war in Ukraine, but Russia’s leader Vladimir Putin isn’t making it easy. A temporary ceasefire on energy attacks was agreed to this week, but Russian drones still hit civilian areas. American officials say Putin could stop the war tomorrow if he wanted, but he’s playing games instead.
Dan Hoffman, a former top CIA spy in Moscow, warned that Putin can’t be trusted. He called for the U.S. to “mistrust and verify” every move Russia makes. The Russian president talks about peace but keeps bombing hospitals and power plants. Putin’s goal isn’t peace—it’s control over Ukraine.
Trump’s team is working nonstop to broker a deal. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz are heading to Saudi Arabia for tough talks with Russian negotiators. The Trump administration wants a full ceasefire, but Putin keeps adding new demands. Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia must return stolen land and kidnapped kids before real peace can happen.
European leaders want NATO troops in Ukraine to keep Russia out, but Putin calls that a threat. He’s already stolen parts of eastern Ukraine and Crimea. Zelenskyy insists those regions belong to Ukraine, not Russia. Trump has backed Ukraine’s right to defend itself but says NATO membership could drag America deeper into the conflict.
Over 20,000 Ukrainian children have been taken to Russia and put up for adoption. Putin denies it, but evidence keeps piling up. These kidnappings show Russia’s cruel tactics. Trump’s team is pushing for their return, but Moscow refuses to even admit they’re gone.
The next big challenge is Ukraine’s nuclear plants. Trump wants American companies to take over their operations for safety, but Putin sees this as a trick to weaken Russia. Talks are stuck on this issue. Meanwhile, Russian missiles keep flying.
Peace won’t come easy. Hoffman says wars end when one side loses—and Putin still thinks he can win. Trump’s strategy is to pressure Russia with sanctions while offering deals. But Putin only cares about power. He’d rather fight than lose face.
America stands strong. Trump’s focus is stopping the bloodshed without letting Russia bully Europe. The world is watching to see if Putin will finally choose peace—or keep starting fires he can’t put out.
