US Worried Putin Not Ready For Peace

President Donald Trump’s renewed effort to bring the Russia-Ukraine war to an end is entering a critical stage as American negotiators hold high-level meetings with leaders in Moscow and Kyiv.

But one retired U.S. military officer says there is still a major question hanging over the negotiations: Is Russian President Vladimir Putin actually prepared to stop fighting?

Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Chris Eddy said Sunday that the Trump administration should continue pursuing negotiations even though he remains skeptical that Putin is ready to agree to a settlement.

“I think you should try,” Eddy said during an appearance on Newsmax’s “Sunday Report.”

Eddy suggested that Putin may believe additional Russian battlefield gains could give Moscow greater leverage in future negotiations.

That assessment comes as the Trump administration renews its diplomatic campaign to find a possible path toward ending a war that has lasted more than four years.

Trump Envoys Meet Putin Before Heading to Ukraine

U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner traveled to Kyiv on Sunday for discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after holding an extensive meeting with Putin at the Kremlin one day earlier.

The meeting in Moscow lasted more than three hours and focused on possible steps toward ending the Russia-Ukraine war.

The talks did not produce an immediate peace agreement or ceasefire. However, the diplomatic activity demonstrated that Washington continues to search for a negotiated solution.

Witkoff and Kushner then took their diplomatic mission directly to Ukraine, where they held talks with Zelenskyy and other Ukrainian officials.

The meetings represent another attempt by the Trump administration to bring Russia and Ukraine closer to negotiations after years of fighting.

No Major Breakthrough After Putin Meeting

Despite the renewed diplomatic activity, there was no announcement of a major breakthrough following the Kremlin discussions.

Russian officials characterized the meeting positively while maintaining Moscow’s position regarding its objectives in Ukraine.

That leaves the Trump administration facing the same fundamental problem that has complicated previous attempts to end the war: Russia and Ukraine remain divided over major issues, including territory and long-term security arrangements.

Eddy said he believes neither country is positioned to achieve a decisive military victory.

“There’s no way Russia is going to win this war. There’s no way Ukraine is going to win this war,” Eddy said.

In his assessment, the conflict may ultimately require both sides to conclude that continued military operations cannot deliver the outcome they want.

Temporary Pause in Attacks Offers Glimmer of Progress

There was at least one limited development surrounding the American diplomatic mission.

Russia and Ukraine temporarily refrained from strikes on each other’s capitals while the U.S. envoys conducted their meetings.

Putin said Russian forces would not strike Kyiv during the diplomatic mission, while Zelenskyy said Ukraine would refrain from attacks on Moscow through Monday.

The arrangement was not a comprehensive ceasefire, and fighting elsewhere continued.

Still, Eddy suggested that smaller agreements could potentially serve as building blocks toward something larger.

“I think the administration is trying to get at least a ceasefire on major cities to prevent civilian casualties, first off, and then at least go from there,” he said.

Such an approach could allow negotiators to pursue limited agreements before tackling the far more difficult questions surrounding territory, security guarantees and a permanent settlement.

Why Ending the Russia-Ukraine War Remains So Difficult

The Russia-Ukraine war began with Moscow’s full-scale invasion in February 2022 and has since developed into one of the most consequential international conflicts in decades.

Despite enormous military resources committed by both sides, neither has secured an outright victory.

Territory remains among the biggest obstacles to a peace agreement.

Russia wants control over areas of Ukraine that Kyiv considers sovereign Ukrainian territory. Ukraine, meanwhile, continues to seek security guarantees and military support designed to protect the country from future attacks.

Those disagreements make reaching a comprehensive settlement considerably more complicated than arranging a temporary ceasefire.

Trump Administration Keeps Diplomatic Channels Open

The latest meetings show that the Trump administration has not abandoned its effort to negotiate an end to the conflict.

By sending Witkoff and Kushner to meet directly with both Putin and Zelenskyy, Washington is maintaining communication with both governments while attempting to determine whether common ground exists.

The administration could also pursue smaller agreements involving attacks on cities, civilian infrastructure or other limited areas while broader negotiations continue.

Whether those efforts eventually lead to a lasting peace agreement remains uncertain.

Putin’s Calculations Could Determine What Happens Next

Much may ultimately depend on how Putin views Russia’s position on the battlefield.

If Moscow believes continued fighting will produce additional territorial gains, Russian leaders may see little incentive to make major concessions.

If those calculations change, negotiations could take on greater importance.

That is why Eddy remains cautious despite supporting continued American diplomatic efforts.

His broader argument is that neither Russia nor Ukraine appears capable of obtaining everything it wants through military force alone.

Can Trump Bring Russia and Ukraine to the Negotiating Table?

The latest round of diplomacy gives the Trump administration another opportunity to test whether Moscow and Kyiv are prepared to move beyond limited agreements.

Witkoff and Kushner have now spoken directly with leaders on both sides, giving Washington an opportunity to compare their demands and determine where compromises may—or may not—be possible.

For Americans watching a conflict that has stretched on for years, the stakes extend well beyond the battlefield. The war has influenced U.S. foreign policy, defense priorities, relations with Europe and the broader balance of power between Washington and Moscow.

A temporary pause in attacks on major cities would represent only a small step.

A lasting peace agreement would require considerably more.

For now, Trump’s diplomatic push continues, but the central question remains unanswered: Is Putin ready to make the compromises necessary to bring the Russia-Ukraine war to an end?