Can US-Led Talks Bring a Russia-Ukraine Truce? A Look at Two Years of Efforts
The United States is pushing for a truce between Russia and Ukraine, and a new round of trilateral talks is planned for November. Here is how the efforts have unfolded and why the outcome is uncertain.
- Next step
- Trilateral talks between the US, Russia and Ukraine in November
- Last trilateral round
- February 2026
- Stated US goal
- A ceasefire or lasting peace before the talks
From Campaign Promise to Diplomacy
During the 2024 US election campaign, Donald Trump said he would end the war “in 24 hours” and argued that Washington had given Ukraine too much aid. After taking office in January 2025, he made peace negotiations a priority.
A Series of Attempts
The first effort came in March 2025, when Washington sought a 30-day halt to attacks on energy infrastructure. Both sides initially agreed, but reports later said Russia had violated the pause. In April 2025, Putin proposed an Orthodox Easter ceasefire, which Zelenskyy said Ukraine would observe, though reports said Russian attacks resumed within hours. In August 2025, Trump met Putin in Alaska. No ceasefire followed, although Trump said there was a “very good chance” of peace.
Talks in the United Arab Emirates and Switzerland in early 2026 did not produce a ceasefire, and follow-up meetings were postponed after the war in Iran began. A further Easter truce in April 2026 was also reported to have been broken. In October, Trump announced an energy ceasefire, and Russia attacked Ukrainian energy infrastructure hours later.
Changing US Support
US policy has shifted during the conflict. A February 2026 report by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy found that US aid to Ukraine fell by 99 percent in 2025, and said Europe had almost made up the gap.
Political Reactions
Scepticism about the approach is not limited to one party. Republican Senator Mitch McConnell has argued that easing sanctions will not persuade Putin to stop, while fellow Republican Thom Tillis said Putin was manipulating Trump. Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen said Putin responds only to strength, and called for continued support for Ukraine. Senior officials have also sounded cautious: Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in October that there did not seem to be prospects for a negotiated settlement, and Vice President JD Vance described the task as a very tall mountain to climb.
What Happens Next
The November meeting will bring senior officials from the three countries together for the first trilateral round since February. Supporters of Ukraine and observers of the war are watching closely, but whether the talks can produce a ceasefire, or a lasting peace, remains uncertain.
