Trump & Russia
3 lessons from Minsk II for the US in a future Russia-Ukraine peace deal
The following op-ed is based on a broader report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), published on Feb. 11, 2025. Some peace deals lead to peace; others lead to more war. The Minsk II deal, aimed at ending Russia’s initial invasion of Ukraine in 2014, instead
'Putin is afraid of you' — Zelensky reportedly told Trump during phone call, Axios reports
During a phone call between President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump, Zelensky reportedly told Trump that Russian President Vladimir Putin is pretending "he wants a deal only because he is afraid of you," Axios reported on Feb. 13, citing a Ukrainian official and three other sources familiar with the call.
Russia should be readmitted into G7, Trump says
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Feb. 13 that he would "love" to see Russia readmitted into the Group of Seven (G7), calling Russia's 2014 expulsion from the group a "mistake."
‘Totally screwed’ — How Trump, Hegseth are damaging Ukraine in talks with Russia
After promising to quickly resolve the war in Ukraine, U.S. President Donald Trump and his top officials’ actions on Feb. 12 appeared to undermine Ukraine’s leverage in peace talks, renewing fears that his plans for a quick resolution could amount to a victory for Russia. Trump announced he
Trump says talks with Zelensky, Putin were 'great,' optimistic about ending 'very bloody war'
"Great talks with Russia and Ukraine yesterday. Good possibility of ending that horrible, very bloody war," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Russia preparing delegation for US talks on war with Ukraine, consider Minsk 'experience', Kremlin says
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that "work will be started quickly."
China proposes to host Trump-Putin talks without Ukraine's Zelensky, WSJ reports
The White House declined to confirm whether it had received China's proposal but reportedly dismissed it as "not viable at all."
Trump has the economic tools to end Russia’s war. He should use them
There are still many questions about what to expect from the Trump administration’s approach to ending Russia’s war in Ukraine. With some in Congress questioning continued military aid and loans for Ukraine, the application of economic statecraft measures —such as sanctions, export controls, and tariffs — could be used
Oil prices drop 2% as Trump takes first step toward Ukraine peace talks, Reuters reports
Oil prices dropped more than 2% on Feb. 12 after U.S. President Donald Trump took a significant step toward ending the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, which has contributed to higher oil prices due to concerns over global supply disruptions.
As US and Russia start talks, what peace terms could Ukraine accept?
As diplomatic efforts between the U.S. and Russia have kicked off to end Moscow's war in Ukraine – without Kyiv at the table – it is becoming increasingly clear that Ukraine will most likely be pressured by Washington to make concessions to Russia. U.S. President Donald Trump and his team
US to release Russian cybercrime boss in exchange for American schoolteacher Marc Fogel, Reuters reports
Alexander Vinnik, a Russian cybercrime boss who was serving a prison sentence in the U.S., will be released in exchange for the return of American teacher Marc Fogel, Reuters reported on Feb. 12, citing an unnamed U.S. official.
Trump holds call with Putin, says Ukraine peace negotiations to start 'immediately'
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said both agreed that "we want to stop the millions of deaths taking place in the War with Russia/Ukraine."
Trump praises Putin for US teacher's release, says it could help end Russia-Ukraine war
"There's good will in terms of the war," U.S. President Donald Trump said when asked if Fogel's release could lead to a peace deal.
Trump envoy who negotiated prisoner release secretly assigned to help end Ukraine war, NYT reports
Trump directed billionaire Steve Witkoff, his close friend and special envoy to the Middle East, to play a role in the Russia-Ukraine peace process, multiple sources told the New York Times.
Russia releases imprisoned American teacher in 'exchange' deal
U.S. history teacher Marc Fogel was released on Feb. 11 in an "exchange," the White House said. The details of the deal with Russia have not been disclosed.
US envoy in Moscow holds talks with Russian deputy FM
Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said the meeting focused on "the activities of foreign agencies." The last reported meeting of this kind was in December 2022.
Trump claims 'progress' on ending Russia-Ukraine war, confirms contact with Putin
"If we are talking, I don't want to tell you about the conversations. I do believe we're making progress," U.S. President Donald Trump said.
Trump says he spoke with Putin about ending war in Ukraine, New York Post reports
U.S. President Donald Trump said he had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin about ending the war in Ukraine but declined to say how many times they had spoken, the New York Post reported on Feb. 8.
Ukraine regaining nuclear weapons 'not going to happen,' Trump's envoy Kellogg says
"The chance of them getting their nuclear weapons back is somewhere between slim and none," Keith Kellogg, U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia said.
Trump's team split over how to end war in Ukraine, NBC reports
The U.S. has significant leverage over Russia in economic, military, and diplomatic terms, but questions remain over Trump's willingness to use it.
US leading 'very constructive talks on Ukraine,' Trump says
"But we are having very good talks, very constructive talks on Ukraine. And we are talking to the Russians. We're talking to the Ukrainian leadership," Donald Trump said during a press conference in Washington with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Europe must act on Russian LNG before Trump makes it impossible
Europe’s window to ban Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) is closing faster than we think. As a second Trump administration takes shape, Europe's opportunity to impose new, meaningful measures on Russian fossil fuels is rapidly diminishing. U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war allegedly includes
Russia sees Saudi Arabia, UAE as possible venues for Trump-Putin meeting, Reuters reports
Senior Russian officials have allegedly visited both Saudi Arabia and the UAE in recent weeks, according to Reuters.
'100% tariffs' — Trump vows trade war if BRICS replaces dollar as reserve currency
The BRICS group, composed of Russia, China, India, Brazil, and other nations, has been exploring ways to reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar.
Trump must call Putin’s bluff on Ukraine talks
Russian President Vladimir Putin is starting 2025 with a bang. In a nod to U.S. President Donald Trump’s desire for a settlement in Ukraine, the Kremlin has announced its readiness for negotiations “without preconditions.” However, the devil is in the details. For Russia, “without preconditions” translates to cutting
Trump’s Russia sanctions might be what finally works
Just one week into his presidency, U.S. President Donald Trump has hinted at his approach to U.S. sanctions on Russia. On Truth Social last week, he called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to “settle now and STOP this ridiculous War! IT’S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE,” adding,
Trump needs to 'understand where the threat is,' UK lawmaker says
U.S. President Donald Trump needs to "understand where the threat is" and not "force Ukraine into a bad deal," U.K. lawmaker Iain Duncan Smith told the Kyiv Independent. In an interview in Kyiv alongside another U.K. lawmaker Layla Moran on Jan. 22, Duncan Smith urged Trump not
What leverage does Trump have over Russia in Ukraine peace negotiations? Quite a lot, experts say
Only days after U.S. President Donald Trump returned to the White House, he dialed up the heat on Russia with a threat of sanctions, tariffs, and negotiating "the hard way" if Russian President Vladimir Putin fails to come to the table for a peace deal with Ukraine. Trump has
Trump accuses Russia of stealing plans for U.S. hypersonic missile
President Donald Trump previously raised the accusation in 2023, saying Russia had stolen plans for what he described as "super-duper missiles."
Putin ready to talk to Trump, Kremlin 'awaits signals' from US
"(Vladimir) Putin is ready, we are waiting for signals, everyone is ready," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Jan. 24.
Zelensky is ’no angel’ — Trump criticizes Ukraine’s president for ’wanting to fight’ at war’s onset
"Zelensky... shouldn’t have allowed this to happen either. He’s no angel," Trump said. "First of all, he’s fighting a much bigger entity."
Trump’s Ukraine war ultimatum sparks angry reaction from Russian milbloggers
Russian military bloggers, known as milbloggers, have responded in defiant terms to Donald Trump’s ultimatum to his Russian counterpart, describing it as "blackmail" from a U.S. president acting more like a "king of the playground." On Jan. 22, Trump called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to "make a
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