In a stark warning to both Kyiv and Moscow, President Donald Trump has threatened to completely abandon the Ukraine peace process, declaring it could become “your fight.” This option of total disengagement is a key part of his two-week ultimatum.
This threat represents a significant departure from previous U.S. policy, which has generally involved active mediation in the conflict. Trump is signaling that American involvement is conditional on the willingness of the primary actors to make peace.
The choice to step away is presented as an alternative to imposing “massive sanctions” on Russia. This gives the U.S. two distinct forms of leverage: the threat of punishment and the threat of abandonment.
This high-stakes approach is designed to force a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. As the two leaders weigh their options, the possibility of losing the U.S. as a key diplomatic player adds a powerful new incentive to find a resolution.