Trump gave Putin a 'green light' to continue the war — The Hill

Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Steven Pifer, in a column for The Hill, criticized Donald Trump's policy toward Russia, arguing that it has not brought the war in Ukraine closer to an end but has instead convinced Vladimir Putin that there will be no serious consequences for continued aggression. Pifer noted that Trump promised to end the war in 24 hours, but 18 months into his second term passed before American representatives first visited Kyiv. Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff visited Kyiv on September 6, 2026, for the first time in the second term, while he had already made nine visits to Moscow without noticeable results. Pifer criticized Witkoff's trust in the Russian side after Putin denied transferring intelligence to Iran. The diplomat called on the White House to apply real pressure: limiting Russia's access to American technology, imposing sanctions on buyers of Russian oil, combating the 'shadow fleet,' and increasing military aid to Ukraine. In his view, the lack of a tough response has allowed Putin to ignore Washington's demands.