Is Trump moving the U.S. from a co-belligerent to a mediator?

 MOVING THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR UKRAINE TO THE EU

IF U.S. IS OUT, THE UKRAINE PROJECT IS OVER

It is becoming increasingly clear that Trump is in the process of exiting direct involvement in the Ukraine conflict. While he has pledged to continue making weapons available, they are to be sold to the EU countries and then given to Ukraine.  We will have to wait to see if they can come up with the Euro's or if the U.S. can provide the weapons due to a severe shortage of some weapons for the U.S. defense stockpile. 

While we keep hearing that the EU countries are in dread fear of Russia, we see little material evidence that they have increased troop strength, instituted a mobilization or actually increased spending. They have made pledges, but pledges are meaningless without action.

Then, without U.S. overseeing the EU, it can be expected that squabbling will increase to see who is going to exert leadership, the usual, French, who have a bigger army and the English who still think they are the British empire and worst of all, are they really ready to encourage German rearmament. That will be another story in itself.

It is unlikely that any of the current EU leadership is capable of engaging in negotiations with the Russians. They may have all burned their bridges. It may require new leadership, but the reality is that a fire is under their behinds as Russia is continuing to move west every day. Someone has to step up and open up communications with Russia. I expect that Trump's strategy is for them to start talking to Russia.

Then the question is, is the U.S. going to pull their advisers out of Ukraine? These are people that operate sophisticated Hi-Mars and Patriot systems. Then there is a large number of CIA and other operatives in the country. One of the reasons for a call for a ceasefire is Russia is now more effectively targeting NATO personnel. When you see apartment buildings and hotels hit, you can assume they are housing foreign advisers.

Of course, this will all be severely objected to by those who are willing to fight to the last Ukrainian.

As for Ukraine, the proposed meeting between Putin and Zelinsky is not yet scheduled, We can expect that Trump wants Zelenitsky to open a dialogue with Putin and then he will act as mediator. It would be a very difficult meeting.

A leaked document from the Ukrainian defense department revealed that Ukraine has suffered 1.7 million deaths and missing. It was 188.500 in 2022, 405,400 in 2023, 595,000 in 2024 and so far 621,000 in 2025. It can be expected these numbers will find their way into the Ukrainian public.

It seems Russia has not altered their strategy of just exerting continuous pressure everywhere. Ukraine has launched several counter offensives and Russia has moved back, as has been their policy. Inevitably Russia will retake those areas in the future. Russia seems to believe that time is on their side as Ukraine and its supporters are being weakened by this attritional strategy.