Even if it’s real, Trump’s new Ukraine push is already being undermined by events

The recent push by the United States to negotiate a peace deal in Ukraine appears to be hindered by ongoing events in the region. President Donald Trump claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin "is wanting to make a deal," and similarly, Zelensky expressed openness to a negotiation. However, the situation on the ground paints a starkly different picture.

On Wednesday, a Russian drone entered Moldovan airspace and disrupted the departure of a plane carrying Zelensky to Norway. Moreover, after a peace shuttle visit to Moscow, and the departure of Trump’s envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff from Kyiv, Putin resumed his missile and drone attacks on Ukraine, resulting in casualties.

Special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner met with Zelensky in Kyiv on September 6, 2026, amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. The incidents in Moldova were likely not a direct threat to Zelensky, but they suggest a "not an accident" comment by the US ambassador to Moldova. The war has been costing Russia around 40,000 troops monthly, according to Western intelligence, and now shows a tendency to spread beyond Ukraine, raising concerns about a potential NATO-Russia clash in Europe.

The US diplomatic efforts to engage in diplomacy after focusing on the Iran war are welcomed. However, signs from the US officials' meetings with Putin and Zelensky are not promising, as they fail to address the entrenched factors that have prolonged the war for over four years.