The recent Trump-Putin telephone conversation resulted in a 30-day ceasefire agreement focused solely on protecting each country’s energy infrastructure. For Ukraine, this meant a temporary halt to Russian strikes on its power grid. However, the ceasefire did not extend to battlefield operations, allowing Russia to continue its military advances uninterrupted. While this was not a comprehensive peace deal, it signaled an important diplomatic opening, showing that Trump recognized Putin’s position and opted for negotiation rather than direct confrontation.
It was never realistic to expect Putin to agree to a full ceasefire without securing Russia’s key objectives in Ukraine. The war was never just about territorial disputes; it was about Russia’s long-term security, NATO’s encroachment, and Washington’s broader geopolitical ambitions. Trump seemed to grasp this reality, which is why the limited ceasefire was possible. Given his recent threats of consequences if Putin refused a ceasefire, there was concern that Russia’s rejection might lead to increased U.S. sanctions and undermine Trump’s credibility as the leader who could “end the war.” Fortunately, instead of escalating tensions, the agreement provided a diplomatic path for further negotiations.
It is crucial to recognize that this war was never truly between Ukraine and Russia. Ukraine has always been a U.S. proxy, a pawn in Washington’s strategic war against Moscow. Zelensky has no real authority in this conflict; every major decision comes from Washington, where NATO and Western intelligence agencies dictate Ukraine’s military strategy. The war was never about protecting Ukraine, it was about using Ukraine as a tool to weaken Russia, isolate Putin, and expand Western influence in Eastern Europe.
Trump has stated that this war would never have happened if he had remained in office in 2020. Had he been in power, he would have brokered a peace deal early on, preventing the billions wasted on war and the thousands of lives lost. Since Trump has no personal investment in this conflict, he has no reason to prolong it, meaning he could end it on Putin’s terms, which are pragmatic and reasonable.
While the ceasefire agreement is a positive step, there remains a major geopolitical threat, Israel’s push for war with Iran. The American establishment, particularly the military-industrial complex and pro-Israel lobby, have been relentless in pressuring Washington toward conflict with Tehran. If Trump is dragged into a war with Iran, it will derail his efforts to focus on domestic policies and pursue peace with Russia. The real question is whether he can resist these pressures.
Putin is not Trump’s greatest challenge. If anything, Putin has shown himself to be pragmatic, willing to negotiate and restore relations with the U.S. Trump’s real enemy is the American Establishment, the network of elites in Washington, the intelligence community, the military-industrial complex, and globalist financial institutions who profit from endless war and instability. This establishment has worked tirelessly to undermine him, weaponizing the media, using lawfare to weaken his political influence, and ensuring that no attempt at peace ever succeeds.
If Trump can avoid being ensnared by unnecessary conflicts, especially in the Middle East, he could focus on ending America’s involvement in Ukraine, rebuilding U.S.-Russia relations, and taking on the corrupt political system within the U.S. itself. But achieving this will not be easy. The forces working against him thrive on war, division, and chaos.
This 30-day ceasefire may be limited in scope, but it marks a shift in diplomacy that could lead to a larger resolution. However, Trump’s greatest battle is not with Putin, but with the entrenched power structures in the U.S. that have sabotaged every attempt at peace. If he can navigate these challenges, he may finally break the cycle of endless war, but that remains to be seen.
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