War on Iran: Trump says Iran has one ‘last chance’

U.S. President Donald Trump risks missing a crucial chance to end Russia's war against Ukraine as he concentrates on Iran, according to Thomas Graham, a former White House adviser on Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have recently expressed a desire for Washington to return to the negotiating table, but Graham warns that Kyiv and Moscow will not wait indefinitely.

Despite Putin's favorable remarks about Trump, several high-ranking officials and commentators question his ability to serve as an effective mediator due to U.S. aid for Ukraine. Ukraine is collaborating closely with European nations on negotiating strategies, with some in Kyiv advocating for Europe to play a more active role. This move, according to Graham, would widen the gap with Moscow and diminish the prospects for peace.

He argues that there are two compelling reasons for the United States to rejoin the negotiations immediately. The conflict has spiraled into a dangerous escalation, with Ukrainian forces launching more attacks on Russian military installations and energy infrastructure, while Russia intensifies assaults on Ukrainian cities and vital infrastructure, capitalizing on Ukraine's lack of air defense systems.

Destruction and civilian casualties are escalating, and fears of the war spreading are mounting across Europe. Both sides urgently need to conclude the war, Graham asserts. Each day the conflict persists, the outlook grows increasingly grim, yet if it were to end today, each side could claim victory. Intensive negotiations are now urgently required to capitalize on this opportunity and bring an end to the war, Graham contends.

Only Washington possesses the necessary contacts, political weight, and influence to facilitate such talks, involving both Moscow and Kyiv, as well as significant European capitals. Graham urges Trump to dispatch his envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, to Kyiv first, followed by Moscow as soon as possible. While these visits may not result in an immediate breakthrough, they could set the stage for a prolonged period of shuttle diplomacy aimed at reconciling the significant differences between the parties.

Success is not assured, and the effort may not yield the swift results Trump desires. However, Graham warns that the opportunity may be fleeting, and Washington must act before escalation erodes the diplomatic prospects generated by military weariness. Trilateral discussions among Ukraine, the United States, and Russia stalled in February 2026 following the outbreak of the Iran war.

The Kremlin stated on May 7 that it deemed further talks in that format impractical until Ukraine withdrew its forces from the Ukrainian-controlled portion of the Donbas. Zelenskyy penned an open letter to Putin on June 4, urging both sides to cease the war "between you and us," proposing an in-person meeting, a comprehensive ceasefire, and an "all-for-all" prisoner exchange.

Putin dismissed the letter, calling it "elements of rudeness," and refused to meet. It later emerged that oligarch Roman Abramovich had visited Kyiv in May with Putin's consent. During their meeting, Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraine's unwillingness to agree to a withdrawal from the Donbas. On July 31, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Washington would spend the following weeks assessing whether talks between Kyiv and Moscow could be revived to bring the war closer to an end.