Biden’s policy was quite simple. We would help arm Ukraine so they could defend their country against the Russian invasion. We would never put our troops in Ukraine. As Biden stated, when US and Russians meet on the battlefield, this is the start of World War III. However, the US and European leader would ultimately convince Putin through sanctions and arms that Ukraine was not theirs.

Trump’s One Day Solution

Trump on the other hand just had sound bites. The Russian invasion would never had happened if he had been president. Sure, he would get on the phone and tell Putin that invasion of another country was really stepping over the line. He even blamed the invasion on Kamala Harris, saying she met with Putin days prior to the invasion in 2022. This was a lie.

Trump’s False Claim That Harris Met with Putin

And of course, his most famous line was that he would end the Ukraine war on the first day of his administration. On April 25, he said it was just a figure of speech. “Obviously, people know that when I said that, it was said in jest, but it was also said that it will be ended,” he added.

A lot of supporters thought all that was needed was to elect Trump as the master in making the “deal” between Ukraine and Russia. Now we know, he had nothing in his hip pocket to offer Putin to withdraw.

The peace talks are a joke. The constant bombing of the northeastern city of Sumy in Ukraine shows Russia is clearing the area so Russian forces can capture Kyiv. They are also bombing targets including residential areas in the south and west of Ukraine, where there are few defenses.

Sumy city under threat as Russian forces advance, Ukraine says (Attack on June 3)

Ukraine has retaliated by bombing military targets deep within Russia. See link below:

Ukraine’s drone attack on Russian warplanes was a serious blow to the Kremlin’s strategic arsenal

This was followed by an attack of the Kerch Strait Bridge, which connects Russia to Crimea. The extent of damages is unclear at present. Early reports indicate that the bridge is operational.

As Russia reels from drone attack, Ukraine targets vital Crimean Bridge

US gives Russia incentive to continue military attacks

The last “Peace Talks” lasted just one hour. The discussion was only about the exchange of prisoners.

Under Biden administration, the policy was to form a united front in confronting Russia’s invasion and continue to put pressure on through isolating Russia with tough economic sanction. Trump’s policy has boiled down to a “head in the sand” approach.

US Defence Secretary Hegseth to skip NATO-led meeting on Ukraine military support

Drought in Military Aid to Ukraine Enters Uncharted Territory

The NATO Summit (June 24-25, 2025) will be watched closely by Russia, in deciding more attacks on Ukraine. Military experts indicate that the European leaders, like France and Germany, can make up for the lack of support from the US. However, there are certain critical parts in the military arsonal which Ukraine depends on the US.

The Walk Away Option

I like the way a recent opinion post in CNN put it:

What Trump says he is tempted to do, though, is simply walk away from the whole mess. This is Biden’s war, he insists, or Putin’s and Zelensky’s.

But walking away – and it is unclear what that means in terms of US policy – may no longer be an option. At least not walking away unscathed.

His own insistence on ending the Ukraine conflict, along with his personal interventions with the Ukrainian and Russian leaders, means that Trump and the United States are now inextricably linked with the outcome.

That’s why events on the battlefield and at the negotiating table in Istanbul are being watched so closely.

Despite his regular attempts to disown it, the Ukraine war has very much become Trump’s war on which US credibility now hangs by a thread.

Of course, with Ukraine’s successful attacks on the airfields, Putin is characterizing Ukraine as the aggressor, lead by US and European countries. This is nonsense. Trump liked to say that Russia held all the cards in securing peace on their terms. Now, Ukraine has shown it has a few cards to play as well.

Stay tuned,

Dave