The recent ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas has shifted the focus of President Donald Trump towards resolving another major international conflict—the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. Trump is considering providing Ukraine with long-range weaponry, a move intended to draw Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table.
Resolving the wars in Ukraine and Gaza has been a cornerstone of Trump’s campaign for reelection in 2024. He has been critical of President Joe Biden’s management of these conflicts. Despite efforts to engage Putin in direct talks with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump has encountered challenges similar to those faced by his predecessor.
Following the successful truce in Gaza, Trump expressed newfound optimism about making progress in ending the Russian invasion. He has hinted at increasing pressure on Putin if negotiations do not commence soon. “Interestingly we made progress today, because of what’s happened in the Middle East,” Trump remarked during a dinner with supporters, suggesting the developments could influence the situation in Ukraine.
Trump’s Strategy: Focus on Russia
During a recent speech in Jerusalem, Trump emphasized that his primary foreign policy goal is to conclude the conflict in Ukraine, the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II. He instructed his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, to prioritize this issue.
Potential Arms Deal with Ukraine
Trump is set to meet with Zelenskyy for talks, marking their fourth meeting this year. Ahead of this meeting, Trump has indicated he is considering selling Ukraine long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles, which would enable Ukraine to target deeper into Russian territory, should Putin fail to engage in peace talks.
Zelenskyy has long advocated for these missiles, arguing they are essential for pressuring Russia into negotiations. However, Putin has warned that providing such weaponry to Ukraine would severely damage U.S.-Russia relations. Despite the potential repercussions, Trump has remained firm, stating, “He’d like to have Tomahawks. We have a lot of Tomahawks.”
Mark Montgomery, an analyst with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, noted that while supplying Tomahawks could be a significant move, it might take years to train Ukrainian forces on the system. He suggested that in the short term, Ukraine might benefit more from additional Extended Range Attack Munition (ERAM) missiles and Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), which the U.S. has already started to supply.
Sanctions and Economic Pressure on Russia
Zelenskyy is expected to urge Trump to impose further sanctions on Russia, a move Trump has been hesitant to make. Instead, he has focused on urging NATO and allies to cease buying Russian oil, a major source of funding for Moscow’s military efforts. Trump announced that India, a significant purchaser of Russian oil, had agreed to halt its imports.
Pending legislation in the U.S. Senate aims to impose tariffs on countries purchasing Russian oil and gas, but it awaits Trump’s endorsement. Recently, the White House has shown increased interest in this legislation, suggesting a possible shift in Trump’s position.
According to administration officials, the legislation has been reviewed in detail, with suggested edits and technical changes, indicating growing seriousness about the proposal. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the administration seeks broader European support before implementing stricter sanctions, noting Europe’s greater vulnerability to Russian aggression.
“So all I hear from the Europeans is that Putin is coming to Warsaw,” Bessent commented. “There are very few things in life I’m sure about. I’m sure he’s not coming to Boston. So, we will respond … if our European partners will join us.”
AP writers Fatima Hussein, Chris Megerian and Didi Tang contributed to this report.
Originally Published:
