Key Points – President Trump’s campaign promise to swiftly end the Russia-Ukraine war remains unfulfilled four months into his second term, with peace efforts stalled and both sides firmly entrenched.
-Russia recently proposed new talks in Istanbul, but its territorial and sovereignty demands remain unacceptable to Kyiv.
-Amid this diplomatic deadlock and continued Russian aggression, Ukraine reportedly launched “Operation Spider’s Web,” a sophisticated drone strike using FPV drones hidden in truck-mounted cabins, which President Zelenskyy claims successfully destroyed over 40 Russian warplanes deep inside Russian territory.
-This operation, described as solely Ukrainian, marks a significant new phase in the conflict.
Ukraine War: From Bad to Far Worse
Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022, while Donald Trump was out of office. When Trump was running to return to the presidency, he promised frequently to end the war, sometimes within 24 hours.
Did Trump believe he had an understanding with the sides to end the war? Or did he have a hubristic confidence in his negotiating skills?
Either way, Trump failed to deliver on that promise, and the war continues to this day.
NPR this week looked at what exactly happened in the first four months of the Trump presidency, from that Oval Office dressing down of Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy to Trump’s two-hour phone call with Vladimir Putin.
“As Far Away As Ever”
According to NPR, Russia has proposed another round of negotiations with Ukraine, in Istanbul, although “sides remain firmly entrenched in their positions on territorial disputes and sovereignty.”
Meanwhile, Trump himself appears to have lost interest in the negotiations, proposing last month that the Vatican preside over talks.
According to a Senate Armed Services Committee estimate released earlier this spring, 790,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in the fighting since the original invasion more than three years ago.
How Ukraine Peace Efforts Failed
According to the NPR timeline of how the issue has been dealt with so far in Trump’s second presidency, Trump first struck an optimistic note when it came to bringing the war to a swift end.
“I think we’re on the way to getting peace,” Trump told reporters in February. “I think President Putin wants peace, and President Zelenskyy wants peace. I want peace. I just want to see people stop getting killed.”
Early on, Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth suggested that Ukraine would likely have to permanently cede territory.
Then came the Zelensky White House meeting in February, which was followed by the U.S. announcing it was suspending aid and intelligence cooperation with Ukraine, although it later resumed providing the aid.
At one point, Russia and Ukraine agreed to an Easter truce, although they went on to accuse one another of violating it. The U.S. later proposed a peace plan that, per NPR, would “freeze the frontlines and recognize Russian control over territories already seized in Ukraine,” while also getting Ukraine to forgo NATO membership.
Both sides rejected that plan. And as the war continued, Trump even upbraided Putin, something he hasn’t done much of over the years.
In May, Russia and Ukraine met face-to-face and even agreed to a prisoner swap. But there was no further agreement on any of the other issues.
A Drone Breakthrough?
Russia launched what NPR described as “ a massive drone and missile strike” on May 25. But now, Ukraine has struck back with a possibly major drone strike of their own.
According to Fox News, Ukraine has launched a drone strike blitz called Operation Spider’s Web, which has successfully burned over 40 Russian warplanes deep in Russian territory.
Ukraine, Fox said, “used small FPV drones hidden inside wooden cabins mounted on trucks. When the trucks reached their targets, the roofs opened by remote control, and the drones launched.”
Zelensky, on X, described the operation as “an absolutely brilliant result.” He also called it “a result achieved solely by Ukraine,” indicating that it wasn’t the result of weapons from the U.S. or other allies.
“One year, six months, and nine days from the start of planning to effective execution. Our most long-range operation. Our people involved in preparing the operation were withdrawn from Russian territory in time. I thanked General Maliuk for this success of Ukraine. I instructed the Security Service of Ukraine to inform the public about the details and results of the operation that can be disclosed,” the president said.
About the Author: Stephen Silver
Stephen Silver is an award-winning journalist, essayist and film critic, and contributor to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Broad Street Review and Splice Today. The co-founder of the Philadelphia Film Critics Circle, Stephen lives in suburban Philadelphia with his wife and two sons. For over a decade, Stephen has authored thousands of articles that focus on politics, technology, and the economy. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @StephenSilver, and subscribe to his Substack newsletter.
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