“Peace won’t come through pressure on the victim. It requires leverage on the aggressor. The U.S. has the cards — it’s time to play them.”

Sergiy Solodkyy, First Deputy Director of the New Europe Center, analyzes the shift in U.S. policy toward Ukraine under President Trump. His article was published by the Taiwan-based think tank, the Prospect Foundation. The expert explores the risks of strategic hesitation and the urgent need for renewed American leadership.

“Conciliatory statements by U.S. officials risk giving the Kremlin the false impression that Washington is prepared to pressure only Ukraine into making concessions. This emboldened Moscow to expand its list of demands. If Trump is serious about peace, now is the time to apply the true principle of “peace through strength” to the state that started this war and refuses to end it. The moment has come for Washington to show that it can offer not only carrots — but also sticks — when it comes to dealing with Russia,” the expert underlines.

“The main strategically justified response to the Kremlin’s unwillingness to halt its aggression is to further strengthen support for Ukraine. Enhancing Ukraine’s defense capabilities could become the key factor that forces Russia to reconsider its calculations and realize the impossibility of achieving victory by force. The sooner this is acknowledged in Washington, the closer not only a ceasefire but also a stable peace will be”, Sergiy Solodkyy concludes in his analysis.

Read the full analysis at the link here.