Questions are growing about what alternatives US President Donald Trump might resort to if he fails to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to accept his proposed 30-day temporary ceasefire, which Ukraine has agreed to but Moscow has expressed doubts about. When asked what his plan would be, Trump said, "It would be bad news for the world because a lot of people are dying." He added, "But I think he (Putin) would agree. I really do. I think I know him very well, and I think he would agree."

However, Trump admitted that he was "a little sarcastic" when he claimed, and repeated over the past three years since Russia invaded Ukraine, that he could stop the war within 24 hours, even before taking office.

"I was being a bit sarcastic."

“Well, I was being a little sarcastic when I said that,” Trump said in an interview with the “Full Major” television program that aired before the full interview aired on Sunday. “What I really mean is, I would love to solve the problem and I will. I think I will succeed.” It was a rare admission from Trump, who has a long history of making exaggerated claims. Nearly two months after returning to the White House, his administration is still trying to broker an end to the war, while the Russian president continues to send messages that suggest he is not willing to accede to Trump’s wishes unless, according to the Kremlin, a ceasefire “leads to a lasting peace.”

Putin said Thursday that Moscow "supports" a ceasefire, but stressed that there are "serious issues" that still need to be resolved before the Kremlin can agree to anything. The Kremlin revealed part of the content of the talks Putin held with Steve Witkov, President Trump's envoy, whom he met in Moscow. Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Putin delivered a message to President Trump, which included "the points that require joint work to make the truce proposal a success."

Nevertheless, Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform: "We had a very good and productive discussion with President Vladimir Putin of Russia. There is a very good chance that this terrible and bloody war will finally end."

The obstacle to peace

The Republican-affiliated Wall Street Journal, in an editorial, recalled Secretary of State Marco Rubio's statement on Tuesday that if Russia rejects the 30-day US-brokered ceasefire accepted by Ukraine, "we will sadly learn what the obstacle to peace here is." The newspaper added, "We knew that before, but now we know from Rubio that the Kremlin said no."

Meanwhile, the Washington Post reported that a think tank close to Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) issued a report last month arguing that the Kremlin should inflame divisions between Washington and Europe. Russia could then continue its attack on Ukraine unhindered. The newspaper says the think tank argues that if the United States agrees to halt arms supplies to Ukraine in exchange for a Kremlin promise not to arm anti-American regimes, it will be difficult to secure this commitment from Russia.

The Wall Street Journal considered the Washington Post's report to be beyond doubt. Although its veracity remains uncertain, it "offers a glimpse into the reality of the Kremlin and is consistent with President Putin's behavior." It believed that President Trump's insistence that Putin's statements were "very promising," while continuing to pressure Ukraine to strike a deal without American promises of aid or security, gave Putin every incentive to perpetuate the war and put himself in the strongest possible position if serious peace talks were held.

The newspaper wondered whether Trump had a plan B beyond striking Ukraine to offer more unilateral concessions. After Trump hinted last week that Putin "wants to end the war" and that "in terms of reaching a final settlement, dealing with Russia might be easier," the newspaper said that nothing Putin has done or said since Trump began his tilt toward Russia suggests that Putin has any such intention.

Russian officials have long argued that the war in Ukraine is a result of NATO expansion and Western intransigence, calling for the alliance to reconsider its presence in Eastern Europe as part of a peace agreement. After Russia came close to retaking the Kursk region from Ukraine last summer—with US officials pointing out that the suspension of US intelligence and satellite imagery contributed significantly—Putin highlighted several issues that "need to be addressed," including whether Ukraine would receive Western weapons during a ceasefire and how the potential truce would be monitored.

European efforts to persuade Trump

Putin's comments come as European leaders launched a new effort to unite the West. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer held a virtual meeting on Saturday with leaders of countries supporting Ukraine, aiming to lay the foundations for an alliance to protect any potential ceasefire agreement in Ukraine, after warning that the Russian president was "not serious" about peace.

Several European countries, along with Ukraine, NATO, the European Commission, Canada, and Australia, participated in the meeting to outline the outlines of a coalition of countries prepared to "support a just and lasting peace" in Ukraine, according to a statement issued by the British government. Starmer told the leaders that the time had come to make "concrete commitments," calling for continued pressure on Putin to "come to the negotiating table" to achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine. He predicted that Putin would do so "sooner or later."

“We cannot allow President Putin to play games with President Trump,” Starmer said in a government statement. “The Kremlin’s complete disregard for President Trump’s ceasefire proposal proves that Putin is not serious about peace.” He continued, “If Russia finally comes to the negotiating table, we must be prepared to monitor the ceasefire to ensure it is a serious and lasting peace.” If it refuses, “we must do everything we can to increase the economic pressure on Russia to end this war.”

Starmer, along with French President Emmanuel Macron, is leading efforts to form a coalition of countries determined to continue supporting Ukraine since Trump reversed his country's foreign policy and began direct negotiations with Moscow in February. The two leaders assert that such an alliance, in addition to US support, is essential to provide Ukraine with security guarantees that prevent a renewed Russian attack.