Trump administration tests European response to proposed Ukraine ceasefire-Report

The Big Picture

The administration is exploring whether a limited ceasefire in Ukraine is possible and politically sellable in Europe. After meeting Vladimir Putin in Moscow, envoy Steve Witkoff briefed Trump on the Kremlin’s conditions. The president publicly acknowledged that any path forward could involve territorial compromises — a sign of the hard trade-offs now on the table, as first reported by POLITICO.

What’s New

Officials describe a twin-track strategy: move diplomatic channels while tightening pressure. Trump has floated tougher sanctions on Russia and higher tariffs on countries buying Russian oil, even as Washington authorizes European allies to purchase U.S. weapons for Kyiv. Early shipments are underway, POLITICO added .

Despite the activity, the White House emphasizes that nothing is settled. “It does not mean a deal or a truce has been agreed upon,” a senior official said, adding that consultations with “all relevant parties” continue. Trump has also signaled he believes Putin “wants peace” and that “we have a shot at it,” according to POLITICO.

What They’re Saying

European diplomats, while wary, credit recent U.S.–European pressure for nudging Moscow toward direct talks. A senior European official told POLITICO that coordinated leverage is “beginning to bite,” but warned that any settlement legitimizing Russian occupation would face fierce resistance in Kyiv and in several EU capitals.

William Taylor, the former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine now with the Atlantic Council, said Moscow’s eagerness for a high-profile meeting gives Washington leverage — if it can translate that into concrete concessions without sidelining Ukraine, POLITICO reported.

What’s Next

A possible Trump–Putin summit is being scoped for next week, pending security and logistics. POLITICO noted that Putin has so far refused U.S. requests to include a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the same window — a sticking point that could complicate any durable agreement.

Even if talks advance, any arrangement involving borders will trigger intense political debates in Ukraine and across Europe. For the U.S., the question is whether pressure — sanctions, tariffs, and defense transfers — can produce verifiable steps from Moscow without undercutting Kyiv.

The Bottom Line

The administration is testing whether a ceasefire framework can take shape around tough trade-offs. European partners are listening but wary. As POLITICO first reported, success will hinge on keeping Ukraine at the center of negotiations and securing meaningful concessions from Russia — not just a pause that freezes the conflict on the Kremlin’s terms.

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