Russian President Vladimir Putin has once again demonstrated his intention to prolong the war in Ukraine, rejecting a peace deal brokered by the United States and forcing a continuation of the diplomatic stalemate. The move, seen as a deliberate stalling tactic, comes as a coalition of Ukraine's allies strengthens its resolve to provide further military and economic support.
Failed Diplomacy and Stalling Tactics
Despite a five-hour meeting on Wednesday 3 December 2025 between the Russian leader and US President Donald Trump's emissaries, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, no progress was made towards ending the conflict. The Kremlin, while describing the talks as "useful, constructive and meaningful," bluntly admitted that "we are no closer to resolving the crisis in Ukraine."
Analysts conclude that Putin is playing for time, banking on President Trump's reported desire for a foreign policy win to pressure Kyiv into accepting terms that would amount to a surrender. However, the US President, aware that a deal seen as a sell-out would be rejected both domestically and internationally, has so far refrained from forcing Ukraine's hand or withdrawing American support entirely.
European Allies Rally with New Aid Packages
In response to the stalled diplomacy and continued Russian aggression, the international coalition backing Ukraine has announced significant new commitments. Key nations including Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, and Canada have pledged to spend hundreds of millions of dollars more to procure US weapons for Ukrainian forces.
This unified response prompted a characteristically combative statement from Putin. At a recent press conference, he claimed, "we are not planning to go to war with Europe," before adding the threatening caveat: "if Europe suddenly wants to fight us and starts, we're ready right now." This rhetoric is widely interpreted as playing to a domestic audience and blaming Western "provocation" for Russia's war of aggression.
The Path Forward: Tightening the Economic Noose
With the Russian president showing no genuine interest in a fair peace, the editorial argues that the coalition of the willing must focus on intensifying pressure on the faltering Russian economy. While the Russian people have shown resilience, increasing the economic cost of the war, alongside the human casualties, is seen as crucial to undermining Putin's ability to sustain a protracted conflict.
A critical lever remains the flow of Russian oil and gas, which continues to bring in vital hard currency. The piece contends that if President Trump is serious about peace, he should use US economic power to help sever these energy lifelines. Ultimately, with US support perceived as erratic, the responsibility falls to European nations and Canada to "step up to their responsibilities" and ensure Ukraine receives the tools needed to defend its sovereignty.
