What seemed like a small window of hope for peace in Ukraine has been pushed further away.
Just days after high-level meetings between world leaders hinted at progress, two major setbacks have made it clear that a settlement is still out of reach.
The U.S. Pulls Back Its Role
One of the biggest blows came from Washington.
European officials visiting the U.S. capital were told that if a peace deal is ever reached, the responsibility of securing Ukraine will fall on Europe—not America.
British officials, alongside their French, German, and Finnish counterparts, were briefed by U.S. defence under secretary Elbridge Colby.
His message was blunt: the United States will play only a “minimal” role in Ukraine’s post-war security.
According to reports, Colby made it clear that European nations will need to step up and handle the heavy lifting themselves.
A NATO diplomat summed it up plainly: “There’s the dawning reality that this will be Europe making this happen on the ground.”
Russia Holds Firm on Its Demands
If Washington’s stance wasn’t discouraging enough, Moscow quickly reminded the world that it has not budged on its demands.
Russian officials restated conditions that Ukraine has already rejected: giving up the entire Donbass region, abandoning hopes of joining NATO, and banning Western troops from setting foot in the country.
These conditions were first laid out back in June 2024, and Kyiv dismissed them at the time.
President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated again this week that Ukraine would never agree to such terms.
“If we’re talking about simply withdrawing from the east, we cannot do that,” he said firmly.
Setbacks After Hints of Progress
The timing of these developments stings. Optimism had grown after Donald Trump met Vladimir Putin in Alaska, and again when Western leaders joined Zelensky at the White House earlier this week.
For a moment, it seemed like diplomacy might be gaining traction.
But Moscow’s rigidity and Washington’s decision to scale back its role now suggest peace is still a distant prospect.
Violence Continues on the Ground
While the political talks stall, the war itself shows no signs of slowing. Ukrainian officials reported that Russia launched 574 drones and 40 missiles in the early hours yesterday. In the city of Lviv, at least one person was killed.
With continued bombardments and both sides unwilling to compromise, the path to peace looks increasingly uncertain.
What’s Next?
For now, the responsibility is shifting heavily toward Europe.
Leaders in London, Paris, Berlin, and Helsinki will have to decide how far they are willing to go in securing Ukraine without the U.S. fully at their side.
Meanwhile, Kyiv faces the difficult task of holding its ground against Moscow’s unyielding demands.
The war has dragged on for three years, leaving hundreds of thousands dead or wounded.
And after this week’s developments, the hope of ending that suffering feels further away than ever.
