Trump advisers urge tougher stance on Russia as war against Ukraine drags on – media

The Wall Street Journal writes about this. 

According to the outlet, despite pressure from senior officials like Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg, Trump remains aligned with envoy Steve Witkoff, who believes Putin is open to peace after recent meetings in Moscow.

"If there is no strong enough pressure on Russia, they will keep doing what they are used to — they will keep waging war," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday.

Russia has rejected Trump’s push for a cease-fire and continues to make gains on the battlefield, while demanding major concessions from Kyiv.

A recent missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy killed 34 civilians and wounded over 100, highlighting the divisions within Trump’s team. Kellogg said the attack “crosses any line of decency,” while Rubio described it as “horrifying.”

Trump, speaking from the Oval Office, called the strike a “mistake,” but blamed President Biden for “letting the war happen.” Trump added: “I want to stop the killing, and I think we’re doing well in that regard. I think you’ll have some very good proposals very soon.”

Rubio and Kellogg have pushed for more sanctions on Russia to force serious negotiations. According to former U.S. official Daniel Fried, State and Treasury are preparing options, though action depends on whether Trump “decides he’s had enough of Putin.”

Meanwhile, Sen. Lindsey Graham and others introduced a bill to target Russia’s energy sector, ignoring a White House request to delay it. At least 50 senators are backing the measure, according to aides.

Trump has pledged to end the war within 24 hours of returning to office. Kellogg extended that timeline to Trump’s first 100 days, which end April 30.

“We will know soon enough… whether Russia is serious about peace,” Rubio said recently. “It would be good for the world if that war ended, but obviously we have to test that proposition.”