Donald Trump has reportedly played a role in brokering a tentative ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, but the deal is far from settled. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to a partial ceasefire, though key details—such as what infrastructure will be protected—remain uncertain. While Trump pushed for a full 30-day ceasefire, Putin would only agree to limited terms, mainly sparing energy facilities.
As part of the negotiations, Trump suggested that the U.S. take control of Ukraine’s power plants to ensure their protection. According to a White House statement, Trump proposed that American ownership of these facilities would provide stability, an idea tied to an ongoing deal that would grant the U.S. access to Ukraine’s critical minerals as partial repayment for wartime aid.
Despite these talks, fighting has continued, with Russian drone strikes targeting Ukraine and Ukrainian forces striking back at Russian equipment. Representatives from the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine are set to meet in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on March 23 to iron out further details.
Even if a ceasefire is reached, European defense officials are preparing for what they call an “unthinkable” scenario—Russia using the pause to rebuild its military and potentially threaten NATO’s eastern members within a few years. Intelligence reports suggest that Russia could regain enough strength to engage in a local conflict within six months, a regional war in two years, and, if the U.S. does not intervene, a large-scale attack on Europe within five years.
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