Former President Donald Trump is optimistic about his ability to broker peace in Ukraine following his recent success in resolving the Middle East conflict, according to a White House official. Trump Ukraine peace efforts are reportedly gaining new momentum as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prepares to meet Trump in Washington to discuss military aid, including the potential provision of Tomahawk long-range missiles capable of striking deep inside Russian territory.
Renewed Peace Talks Amid Ongoing Conflict
Trump has long expressed a desire to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, paralleling his role in securing a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas last week. The Trump administration initially launched peace negotiations immediately after taking office, with the first talks between the US and Russia held in February. A historic summit between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska in August marked a significant moment, though progress stalled as both Moscow and Kyiv remained unwilling to stop fighting.
Conflict Evolves Into Energy War
Since the stalled peace process, the Ukraine conflict has transformed into a brutal energy war ahead of winter. Russian strikes have destroyed about 60% of Ukraine’s gas production capacity, while Ukrainian drone attacks have disabled between 20% and 38% of Russia’s oil refining infrastructure. These developments have caused fuel shortages across multiple regions, emphasizing the urgency for a diplomatic resolution.
The upcoming meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy on October 17 aims to explore military and diplomatic avenues that could revive peace talks and potentially end the ongoing hostilities. Trump’s recent Middle East success provides a backdrop of optimism for similar breakthroughs in Ukraine.