Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks Stalled Amid Ongoing Russian Attacks

Recent high-profile meetings in Washington involving President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and European leaders have raised hopes for peace in Ukraine but ultimately yielded vague security guarantees without concrete commitments. Russia escalated attacks on Ukrainian territories shortly after these talks, signaling the challenge of achieving meaningful progress amid ongoing conflict. While Trump has promised "very good protection" for Ukraine, he explicitly ruled out deploying U.S. troops on the ground, leaving Ukraine in a precarious position regarding its security needs. European and NATO officials remain uncertain about the scope of any security guarantees, and Russia has warned that foreign troops in Ukraine would be seen as an escalation. Ukrainians express skepticism toward both Putin and Trump, recognizing the complexity and risks of negotiating peace that may require territorial concessions. Despite the uncertainty and criticism, there is cautious optimism that an eventual end-of-war agreement could be reached, though the path remains fraught with geopolitical and military challenges.