Trump will call time on the Ukraine war now, and Russia knows it

Russia has been an indirect beneficiary of the war in Gaza, as it has distracted the United States and other Western countries from its ongoing war in Ukraine.

But now that a ceasefire has been established between Israel and Hamas and the nascent peace process has begun, US President Donald Trump is turning his sights toward ending the war in Ukraine.

The president said Thursday that he and other “high-level advisers” would do so Meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin In Budapest, Hungary to discuss how to end the war. This comes after a phone call with the two leaders in which Trump participated He said Putin congratulated him on the “great achievement of peace in the Middle East.”

Trump said in a post on the Truth Social website, “President Putin and I will meet next at an agreed-upon location, Budapest, Hungary, to see if we can end this “outrageous” war between Russia and Ukraine. I believe that significant progress was made during today’s phone conversation.”

The meeting will be the second time the two leaders meet face-to-face during Trump’s second term, and could happen within the next two weeks, according to the US President.

One way the White House is putting pressure on Moscow is to follow suit Discuss the possibility To supply Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. Trump He is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky At the White House on Friday, leaders are expected to discuss the matter.

Earlier in the week, Trump told reporters that he might use Tomahawk missiles as leverage on Russia, saying he could tell Putin: “Look: If this war doesn’t get settled, I’ll send them Tomahawk missiles.”

In another sign that the administration may be ready to deepen its military support for Kiev, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth promised on Wednesday that… “Firepower” was coming for UkraineAlthough he did not mention the Tomahawks by name.

He addresses Israeli lawmakers on Monday during his celebration Ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel“We have to end Russia,” Trump told the Knesset, Israel’s parliament.

“Steve, let’s focus on Russia first, okay? We’ll figure it out.” [done]”,” Trump saidAddressing US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.

After he bragged before his second term that he was able to end the war in Ukraine in just “one day.” He admitted that it was more difficult than he expected“, noting: “I thought it would be settled easily. I thought it was a lot easier than doing what we just did [in Gaza]”.

Victoria Coates, vice president of the Heritage Foundation’s Davis Institute, told CNBC this week that a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas would likely have an impact on the Russia-Ukraine war.

“The momentum behind resolving the Gaza conflict could help bring about a solution to the Ukraine war,” Coats, deputy national security adviser in the first Trump administration, told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on Tuesday.

“All these other countries that the president has been meeting with [this week]And get them to resolve conflicts, [can lead to] And perhaps put some pressure on Putin to sit at the table. “So this could have a positive impact on Ukraine,” she added.

Of course, the big question now is whether Russia is ready to play ball with Trump and his team.

The Kremlin appears keen to show that it is willing to work to end the conflict, although critics (particularly Ukraine) say so. Russia is adept at using delaying tactics So you can prolong the war for territorial gains.

The Kremlin on Tuesday reiterated Russia’s position, strongly opposed by Kiev and its Western allies, that it is Ukrainian intransigence that is preventing an end to the war Russia launched in February 2022.

Dmitry Peskov, the Russian President’s press secretary, said on Tuesday in statements, “Certainly, we welcome such intentions, and we welcome the confirmation of political will to help search for peaceful solutions in all possible ways.” Reported by Interfax.

Peskov said that Russia “remains open and ready for peace dialogue,” adding, “We hope that the influence of the United States and the diplomatic prowess of President Trump’s envoys will certainly help push the Ukrainian side toward greater readiness for the peace process.”

CNBC has contacted the Kremlin for further comment on its expectations for resuming talks with the United States, and is awaiting a response.

Aside from promoting the possibility of giving Ukraine Tomahawk missiles, the existence of which the Kremlin admitted last Sunday “Great concern” Trump is putting pressure on Russia’s allies and imposing tariffs on India in exchange for its purchase of Russian oil.

Trump, who recently disparaged Russia as “…paper tigerHe has also repeatedly threatened to impose further sanctions on Russia itself, but has so far refrained from doing so, disappointing Kiev and other Western partners.

The Tomahawk talks could be a turning point for Russia, according to Peter Dickinson, editor of the Atlantic Council’s Ukraine Alert newsletter. Dickinson said Tuesday that would be the case if Trump were willing to call Putin’s bluff by pledging to supply Tomahawk missiles, regardless of whether he ultimately does so.

“Trump must now decide whether to call Putin’s bluff and arm Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles. There are growing signs that he may be inclined to do so,” Dickinson said.

He added: “Trump now has an opportunity to convince his Russian counterpart that he cannot be intimidated as easily as other Western leaders, and that he is ready to increase pressure on Moscow until Putin agrees to pursue peace.” he said in an online analysis.

He said: “There is no doubt that many of Trump’s critics will scoff at the idea of ​​the US president adopting such a hard-line stance towards Putin, but few objective observers would doubt that this approach is the only way to end the war.”