Trump withdraws his stance on Ukraine.

The impression left after the highly anticipated discussion between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, their third meeting in three months, is that the US president might be distancing himself from Russia's war in Ukraine.

Trump's approach to disengaging was quite revealing. He began with a message on Truth Social, stating how well the call had gone. However, as he elaborated, it became evident that he could be leaving Ukraine to fend for itself. European leaders had hoped to sway the outcome by reaching out to Trump first, reminding him of his threat to impose secondary sanctions on Russia. Yet, Trump did not follow through, and without US support, those measures carry significantly less weight. Putin is aware of this reality. It appears that Trump prioritizes the potential for business dealings with Russia over the complexities of mediating peace.

He communicated a similar sentiment during his recent tour of the Gulf region, indicating he might overlook geopolitical concerns for the sake of a deal. This is the most advantageous scenario for Putin, as his relationship with the US leader remains strong, allowing him to continue pursuing his war objectives.

For Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ukraine's president, the prospect of a US retreat in the fourth year of Russia's invasion is disheartening. He has largely acquiesced to everything Trump has suggested since their tense meeting in the Oval Office. "The only one who benefits from that is Putin," commented Zelenskiy. If Trump is stepping back from the search for a resolution, he has identified a suitable successor for that task. He proposed the new American Pope and the Vatican as a potential forum for peace. When asked if Putin desired a truce and if Leo XIV could broker peace, Trump simply replied, "I do." — Flavia Krause-Jackson. Reported by bloomberg