International Relations: U.S. and Global Responses to Russia-Ukraine Conflict

President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that tremendous progress has been made in the past week toward ending the Russia-Ukraine war. In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that his team has made significant advancements in negotiations, claiming that the conflict would not have begun if he were still president.

He highlighted the death toll, noting that last month alone, 25,000 soldiers lost their lives. On Sunday, key U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll, met with Ukrainian officials in Geneva.

During this meeting, an updated version of Trump's original 28-Point Peace Plan was drafted, incorporating additional input from both Russia and Ukraine. Trump emphasized that only a few points remain unresolved in the negotiations.

Witkoff is set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, while Driscoll will hold discussions with Ukrainian representatives. Trump expressed his intention to be briefed on the progress made and mentioned that he, along with Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, would be kept informed.

He stated that he looks forward to meeting with both President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine and President Putin of Russia once a peace agreement is in its final stages. Trump concluded his message by expressing hope for a swift resolution to the conflict, urging all parties to prioritize peace.