The recent cancellation of the face-to-face meeting between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov underscores the deep rift between Washington and Moscow when it comes to resolving the Russia-Ukraine war. This move, following their phone conversation, signifies a fundamental diplomatic impasse.
After experiencing a setback in the Anchorage negotiations, US President Donald Trump shifted his approach towards Russia. Instead of direct engagement, he attempted to pressure Putin by promising Ukraine arms and threatening economic sanctions. Meanwhile, President Putin responded with talks aimed at appeasing Trump and provocations designed to elicit proposals unacceptable to Ukraine.
Efforts to broker a ceasefire by offering Russia control of unoccupied Donetsk regions were rejected by Ukraine. Russia’s position remains unchanged — insisting on a comprehensive peace treaty before any ceasefire, giving Putin space to prolong the status quo until the end of Trump's term.
According to analysts, Trump’s foreign policy so far has failed to produce tangible results, highlighting that only real practical steps, such as providing Ukraine with long-range weapons or real sanctions, could exert genuine pressure on Russia.
The future of negotiations depends on the willingness of both parties to make real concessions. Without strong actions, the diplomatic stalemate is likely to continue.
