President Trump has to make a world-changing decision. One that he didn’t want to make.
Because Donald Trump’s just been backed into a corner by a US ally and he’s furious about it.
Trump Faces Test to Deliver on Ukraine Peace Promise Amid Escalating Drone Attacks
President Donald Trump’s commitment to ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict faces a critical test as Ukraine’s audacious drone strikes on Russian air bases deepen the war’s complexity. The attacks, launched Sunday, targeted key military and nuclear assets deep within Russia, raising the stakes at a pivotal moment in peace negotiations. Trump’s administration, determined to broker a resolution, must now navigate a path forward amid relentless aggression from both sides.
Ukraine’s drone offensive struck air bases and nuclear bomber facilities, reaching as far as Siberia’s remote expanses, according to reports. The operation, which involved covertly shipping drones into Russia over months, hit an estimated 40 strategic bombers—nearly a third of Russia’s long-range fleet, the Associated Press reported Tuesday. This bold move came as peace talks in Istanbul stalled, with neither Ukraine nor Russia showing willingness to compromise.
“I think Trump has a fundamental decision to make,” George Beebe, director of grand strategy at the Quincy Institute, told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “Are we going to engage with Russia over the core issues that underlie the war in Ukraine, namely, NATO expansion and the broader contours of European security and Russia’s role in it? Or are we going to walk away from the situation in Ukraine and trust that this won’t escalate? I think if we walk away, this war will escalate. There’s no question this war will escalate.”
The timing of Ukraine’s strikes complicates Trump’s peace agenda. Russia, reeling from the attack, loosened its nuclear weapons doctrine in December 2024 after President Joe Biden authorized Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied long-range ballistic missiles. The targeting of Russia’s nuclear bomber fleet, a key component of its nuclear triad, has heightened fears of escalation.
“I think it’s an extraordinarily dangerous development, because the Ukrainians have attacked Russia’s strategic bomber force, which is one element of their nuclear triad,” Beebe told the DCNF. “The Russians made changes to their nuclear use doctrine which said that attacks by a non-nuclear state that would disrupt Russia’s nuclear forces that were conducted with the support of a nuclear state are grounds for nuclear usage.”
Russia’s nuclear arsenal, estimated at 5,580 warheads by the Arms Control Association, looms as a grim reminder of the stakes. The war, now in its third year, has claimed countless lives on both sides while territorial lines remain largely unchanged. Trump’s frustration with the lack of progress is evident, particularly after Russia’s massive drone assault on May 25, which saw 900 drones launched in just three days, according to the AP.
Trump’s impatience extends to both leaders. He reportedly called Russian President Vladimir Putin “crazy” during stalled peace talks, sources told the AP. Similarly, Trump has criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for mismanaging U.S. aid, stating in a May 17 Fox News interview that Zelenskyy had “pissed away” American support. Adding to the tension, Ukraine’s leadership failed to notify the Trump administration about Sunday’s drone strikes, Axios reported.
The core issues fueling the conflict remain unresolved. Russia demands recognition of its annexation of Crimea and Ukraine’s Kherson, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Luhansk regions, while rejecting Ukraine’s NATO membership aspirations, per the Kyiv Independent. Ukraine, meanwhile, insists on preserving its right to join NATO and the European Union, creating a diplomatic stalemate.
Republicans are urging Trump to impose sanctions on Russia to pressure Putin into serious negotiations. Sources close to the president suggest he may be receptive to these measures, The Wall Street Journal reported on May 27. Such steps could align with Trump’s goal of forcing a resolution, though their effectiveness remains uncertain.
“Regarding the negotiations, Kyiv likely hopes this operation will demonstrate to Moscow the high cost of continuing its aggression. But I wouldn’t hold my breath that this will sway Putin’s thinking,” John Hardie, Russia Program deputy director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told the DCNF. “I suspect the Kremlin will continue to fight so long as it thinks it can benefit from doing so, including by gaining territory but more importantly by using ongoing hostilities as leverage in negotiations.”
Ukraine’s drone operation, while a tactical success, may deepen the impasse. “This was an impressive operation that will reduce Russia’s long-range strike capacity,” Hardie told the DCNF. “Exactly how much will become clearer over the coming days.” The strikes showcase Ukraine’s resolve but risk provoking further Russian retaliation.
Trump’s pledge to end the war hinges on his ability to compel both sides to compromise. Vice President JD Vance has suggested that the U.S. may need to “walk away” if Moscow and Kyiv refuse to make meaningful progress, as he told reporters in April. Yet abandoning the process could embolden further aggression, a risk Trump seems determined to avoid.
The Federalist Wire will update our readers on any further Ukraine-Russia war news.
