DONALD TRUMP RETURNED TO THE WHITE HOUSE in January claiming he could end Europe’s bloodiest conflict since World War II. He may, in a limited way, have been right: While neither side is ready to give in, a determined American negotiating effort, effectively applying carrots and sticks, had a chance to deliver at least a temporary respite in the Russia-Ukraine war.

Sadly, Trump is squandering the opportunity to be a peacemaker.

The Trump administration began rolling out its approach to ending the Russia-Ukraine war in mid-February. Administration officials got off on the wrong foot by saying Ukraine could not hope to regain the territory occupied by Russia or to join NATO. The logic behind the decision to endorse Russian positions before the two warring parties had even agreed to negotiate remains unclear.

Continue reading at thebulwark.com