As the Ukraine war drags on, Donald Trump can no longer sit on the sidelines. The war Vladimir Putin started, and Joe Biden failed to stop, is now landing squarely on Trump’s lap.
Trump has long claimed he could end the Russia-Ukraine war in 24 hours. But that promise is facing reality.
The US president is now deeply entangled in America’s role in Europe’s biggest war since 1945.
Although Biden funneled billions in military aid to Ukraine, Trump must now make real-time decisions.
These decisions could shift the war’s direction or expose him as another U.S. leader unable to stop it.
At first, Trump praised Putin and mocked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He also criticized NATO.
However, many allies later met Trump’s calls for increased defense spending.
Still, his rhetoric has caused uncertainty. So far, diplomacy under his watch has produced little progress.
Recently, Trump took a more aggressive stance. He responded to Russian threats with bold nuclear warnings.
In a move that shook global headlines, Trump threatened to deploy U.S. nuclear submarines near Russia.
This marked a stunning escalation in tone and strategy.
Within weeks, Trump’s administration moved from freezing aid to Ukraine to discussing nuclear deterrence.
His once hands-off stance is rapidly becoming an active and dangerous engagement.
Now, he faces a pivotal test. Trump promised to broker peace within 100 days. But with time ticking, he must decide whether to slap secondary sanctions on India and China.
Both countries continue buying cheap Russian oil. Sanctions could hit Moscow hard, but they could also upend global energy markets.
Trump has already warned India of higher tariffs for selling Russian crude at a profit.
Yet New Delhi has shown no sign of backing down. Meanwhile, China remains deeply reliant on Russian energy.
Trump must now make bold decisions. He could dispatch his ally Steve Witkoff to Moscow. Or he might sit down with Putin face-to-face. But neither path guarantees peace. Every move carries risks.
As Colin Powell once said about Iraq, “If you break it, you own it.”
Trump is fast approaching that point with Ukraine. The world is watching. The burden of leadership has shifted.
The war is no longer just Biden’s or NATO’s problem. It’s Trump’s war now. His next steps could define his legacyand reshape the future of Europe.