(BRUSSELS, BELGIUM) – CNN chief international anchor Christiane Amanpour has said that efforts by the administration of Donald Trump to secure progress in peace negotiations over Ukraine have not yet delivered results. She noted that the belief inside the US administration that private dealmaking skills can be applied directly to complex international conflicts has struggled to show success.
Foreign ministers gathered in Brussels as the Kremlin again indicated it was not close to accepting a peace proposal. Talks in Moscow attended by Steve Witkoff, a close associate of Donald Trump, and Jared Kushner, the former US President’s son in law, ended without agreement.
The Russian dictator kept the US envoys waiting for several hours before the meeting, which was seen by analysts as a display of control rather than a sign of progress. Amanpour said this kind of gesture was used to show strength while offering no change in the Russian position.
Reports from Moscow suggested the United States had presented new ideas. A Kremlin spokesperson later said some parts of the US plan were acceptable, while denying that the proposals had been rejected. Despite this message, Russia continues to insist on demands that Ukraine and its Western partners have said they cannot accept.
Amanpour said Ukraine has already shown willingness to negotiate and to support an immediate ceasefire. She stressed that a ceasefire must come before any detailed peace talks. Ukraine maintains that its land and sovereignty cannot be surrendered, especially after years of war beginning in 2014 and widening into full invasion in 2022.
Despite high losses, Russia continues to seek full control over areas it has not captured. Amanpour described this as unprecedented, saying it remains unclear how Russia would achieve those aims on the battlefield.
She added that Trump’s negotiating team does not follow traditional diplomatic processes that normally involve careful preliminary work before senior officials are involved. While Kushner has had a role in Middle East talks previously, neither he nor Wickoff comes from a conventional diplomacy background.
One earlier peace plan developed in Miami by US and Russian figures was viewed by European leaders as too close to Moscow’s demands and was not accepted by Ukraine. European Union states later amended it to ensure Ukrainian sovereignty remained protected.
Amanpour noted that Trump has previously made statements suggesting the conflict could be solved in only one day. She said such comments underestimated the challenge, as Russia continues its long war strategy and believes it can wait out the United States and Europe.
Ukraine continues to face regular drone and missile strikes on civilian areas. Russia has seen losses too, but far fewer disruptions to civilian life inside its borders. Amanpour described the situation as a tragedy for both soldiers and families, saying it requires serious long term strategy and professional diplomacy to move forward.
She warned that without stronger pressure, the Russian dictator will not see a reason to agree to negotiations.
The talks will continue, but Western officials have said that progress remains limited and the path to peace is still unclear.
