Image Credentials: Image Title: TRUMP PRIVATELY ADMITS PUTIN WON’T END UKRAINE WAR, SIGNALS SHIFT IN US STANCE Source: (Grok, xAI) Date: May 2025 Attribution: Created by AI-generated imagery (Grok, xAI), and it does not depict a real-world scene.
By Staff Writer with Agencies | May 22, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump has privately admitted that Russian President Vladimir Putin is unlikely to end the war in Ukraine, telling European leaders in a recent call that Putin “believes he’s winning,” according to multiple officials familiar with the exchange.
The revelation, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, marks a rare moment of alignment between Trump’s private views and long-held European assessments. For months, Trump had publicly insisted that Putin desired peace — a stance that drew skepticism among U.S. allies. But the candid admission in the 19 May call left EU leaders unsettled, not because of the insight itself, but due to Trump’s apparent unwillingness to respond with tougher measures.
The private phone call with European leaders came just hours before Trump’s two-hour discussion with Putin on 18 May. Initially, Trump hinted he might consider sanctions if Russia resisted a ceasefire. But that position evaporated within a day. Speaking to reporters on 19 May, Trump downplayed the U.S. role, saying, “This isn’t my war. We got ourselves entangled in something we shouldn’t have been involved in.”
The comment marks a sharp break from the traditional U.S. leadership role in NATO and global efforts to support Ukraine.
Trump Tells European Leaders in Private That Putin Isn’t Ready to End War – The Wall Street Journal This certainly isn’t what the felon tells https://t.co/pSTRcYMu6B wonder he’s tryin to dump this on the Pope. https://t.co/Q55tH5MJp2
— katherine ✌🏻❤️🎸🌎🧚🌺🌼💔🆒 (@katherineOma) May 22, 2025
EUROPE TAKES STOCK
European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, were left with the impression that U.S. support for Kyiv may increasingly hinge on foreign financing. One official described the meeting as “clarifying but deeply concerning.”
While Trump refused to commit to any new sanctions, he did promise to send Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Keith Kellogg to Vatican-hosted negotiations set for next month. The Vatican talks, which the EU hopes will pressure Russia into a ceasefire, may now go ahead without strong U.S. backing.
In Sunday’s separate briefing with his European counterparts, Trump floated the idea of sanctioning Russia’s energy and financial sectors. But within 24 hours, he walked back that idea as well.
“We can’t keep hurting ourselves to make a point,” Trump reportedly said, arguing that sanctions on Russian energy would “cripple the global economy” more than Moscow.
BACKTRACKING ON “UNCONDITIONAL”
Trump’s apparent flip-flop on whether to demand an “unconditional ceasefire” has also fueled criticism. Though he had previously called for one in a Truth Social post on 8 May, he denied using the term during recent talks with the EU.
His contradictory messaging has added to concerns about Washington’s reliability in multilateral diplomacy and strained unity among NATO members.
“Trump’s language undercuts the momentum we’ve tried to build,” one senior EU diplomat said. “The Russians will interpret this as weakness.”
SIGNALS TO MOSCOW
After his direct conversation with Putin, Trump not only backed off sanctions but also expressed interest in restoring economic ties with Russia — a move the Kremlin has long sought. Some analysts warn this could weaken NATO’s cohesion and embolden Moscow to continue its offensive in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Secretary Rubio has stirred controversy in Washington by refusing to label Putin a war criminal during a recent congressional hearing. His testimony, coupled with the administration’s reported resistance to strong pro-Ukraine language in the upcoming G7 statement, has led critics to accuse Trump of appeasing the Kremlin.
GROWING ALARM IN EUROPE
Chancellor Merz of Germany voiced what many European leaders are now thinking: the war is nowhere near over, and U.S. disengagement could worsen the crisis.
“There is little sign of resolution,” Merz said in a press conference. “And recent developments only reinforce that grim reality.”
As Europe prepares for a future where U.S. leadership on Ukraine may be absent or inconsistent, leaders are recalibrating strategies. They remain hopeful the Vatican talks can deliver progress — but increasingly, they understand they may need to act alone.
Staff Writers at Open Chronicle produce in-depth, field-informed reporting on defense, diplomacy, cultural transformation, and global affairs. Known for clarity, accuracy, and analytical depth, they connect breaking developments to broader historical and strategic contexts. In addition to frontline journalism, Staff Writers also contribute to the Open Chronicle Encyclopedia, crafting authoritative entries that preserve critical knowledge and enrich public understanding.