Why Trump's Ukraine Peace Plan Faces Serious Obstacles

BusinessPolicyWhy Trump's Ukraine Peace Plan Faces Serious ObstaclesByAndy J. Semotiuk,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I write about investor immigration and international law issues.Follow AuthorJun 17, 2026, 08:57am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.SummaryPresident Trump's ongoing efforts to broker peace in Ukraine, with envoys set for travel to Moscow, have yet to yield results despite immense casualties. Numerous experts, including military leaders and historians, widely criticize his approach. They argue the plan disproportionately pressures Ukraine into territorial concessions, effectively rewarding Russian aggression and undermining international law. Key concerns highlight weak security guarantees, a dismissal of Ukrainian sovereignty, and the alienation of European allies. They urge Trump's envoys to visit Kyiv to witness the devastation of the conflict firsthand before further engaging with Moscow, emphasizing that a durable peace must not sow the seeds of future conflicts.Show More Russia's President Vladimir Putin welcomes US special envoy Steve Witkoff and US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner during a meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow on January 22, 2026. THe two envoys are expected to travel to Moscow again shortly. Neither has been to Ukraine. (Photo by Alexander KAZAKOV / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesPresident Trump may soon return to negotiations to achieve a peace plan for Ukraine if the deal to end the war with Iran holds. Indeed, Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are expected to travel to Moscow again shortly. But so far, despite dozens of meetings and lengthy negotiations, Trump has not been able to bring the war in Ukraine to an end. The obstacle is not whether peace is desirable. Most Ukrainians, Russians, Europeans, and American...