Ukraine peace deal likely months away, Trump advisers say

Reuters reported the information.

Two Trump associates who have discussed the war with the president-elect told Reuters they now expect the conflict to drag on for months. They described his initial “Day One” peace deal promise as unrealistic, based on campaign rhetoric and a lack of understanding about the complexities of the war.

Trump’s incoming Russia-Ukraine envoy, retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, initially hoped for a solution within 100 days. However, experts described Kellogg’s timeline as "way too optimistic." John Herbst, a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, emphasized, “For this to work, Trump has to persuade Putin that there’s a downside to being intransigent.”

During his campaign, Trump repeatedly claimed he could broker a deal between Ukraine and Russia on Day One. By late October, however, his rhetoric shifted to a promise to resolve the war "very quickly," and since then, he has further backed off, saying only that he would "solve" the conflict.

Trump himself acknowledged the difficulty of the task, saying in December, “I think, actually, more difficult is going to be the Russia-Ukraine situation."

Russia has sent mixed signals about peace talks. While it welcomed direct discussions with Trump, it has dismissed his advisers' proposals, with Russian UN Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya calling them "nothing of interest."

Meanwhile, the Trump team is still exploring options for a peace plan. Advisers are considering removing the possibility of NATO membership for Ukraine and freezing current battle lines. They also support providing Ukraine with security guarantees, such as a demilitarized zone patrolled by European troops.

However, progress has been slow. Kellogg recently postponed a visit to Kyiv, which was seen as part of an effort to lay the groundwork for peace talks, citing concerns over U.S. law and diplomatic protocol.