Ukraine Conflict and a New US Administration

Across the political landscape in Washington and beyond, the incoming administration led by President-elect Donald Trump has signaled a sharpened focus on Ukraine. Officials say the priority is to craft a path to end the fighting and to establish conditions for a durable settlement, with work starting in January 2025. Among the first personnel moves, Florida congressman Mike Waltz is named to the role of national security adviser, a placement that would put him at the center of high-stakes diplomacy and military planning. The outlined approach envisions coordinating diplomatic channels, military posture, and economic levers to create leverage at the negotiating table. In public remarks, aides described the strategy as a process of consultation and sustained regional engagement, rather than a single bold maneuver. The aim is to bridge differences among Kyiv, Moscow, and the broader coalition of supporters of Ukraine, while keeping the focus on a comprehensive peace that reduces the risk of renewed escalation. The timeline remains provisional, but officials expect a steady cadence of talks that could set the conditions for a formal settlement before long.