President Trump’s confident campaign pledge to end the Ukraine war within 24 hours has been dramatically undermined by Vladimir Putin’s decision to launch the conflict’s largest air raid, deploying 367 projectiles across Ukrainian territory. The massive weekend assault directly contradicts Trump’s claims that Putin was interested in peace negotiations.
The devastating attack, involving 298 drones and 69 missiles, killed at least 12 people including three children and forced Kyiv residents to abandon holiday celebrations for underground shelters. Trump’s reaction revealed his apparent miscalculation of Putin’s intentions, as he publicly expressed surprise at the escalation and questioned what had happened to the Russian leader he once considered predictable.
The failed diplomatic assumption has prompted Trump to reconsider his approach, with the president now indicating he’s “absolutely” prepared to impose additional sanctions on Russia. Ukrainian President Zelensky has seized on this moment to criticize American “silence” and demand stronger international responses to what Ukrainian officials term terrorist attacks. The episode highlights the complexity of international diplomacy and the limitations of personal relationships in resolving geopolitical conflicts.
