Donald J. Trump Breaks Campaign Promise to End Ukraine War Before Inauguration
Donald J. Trump made a bold campaign promise to broker an end to the war in Ukraine within 24 hours of taking office. However, since his election in November, he has made no significant efforts to fulfill this promise. Despite his failures to keep other campaign promises in the past, such as building a border wall and repealing and replacing Obamacare, Mr. Trump continues to push forward without facing apparent consequences.
The transition to a second term saw Mr. Trump playing a critical role in securing a temporary halt in the fighting in Gaza, but the challenge in Ukraine remains daunting. With no existing peace plan to work from, Mr. Trump’s newly appointed special envoy for the Ukraine war has postponed plans to resolve the conflict within 100 days.
Analysts believe that any settlement Mr. Trump pursues will likely favor Moscow, as he has shown an affinity for President Vladimir Putin and resistance to U.S. military aid to Ukraine. Despite not fulfilling his promise before his inauguration, Mr. Trump’s incoming White House press secretary reiterated that ending the war in Ukraine would be a top priority in his second term.
Representative Michael Waltz emphasized that ending the conflict in Ukraine is a top priority for the new president, but acknowledged that the process could take time. Key questions remain about the terms of any agreement, including security guarantees for Ukraine and consequences for Russia.
Mr. Trump has not publicly addressed these complex issues in depth, leaving many to speculate on his eventual course of action. Analysts suggest that his vague language may be intentional, allowing him to improvise his approach to resolving the Ukraine war.