US President Donald Trump has admitted that brokering peace between Russia and Ukraine has been “more difficult, frankly” due to Kyiv’s stance, suggesting it may be easier to negotiate with Moscow. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Friday, Trump said the US was “doing very well with Russia” and hinted that working with the Kremlin might be simpler than dealing with Ukraine.
Earlier in the day, Trump revealed he was “strongly considering” imposing large-scale sanctions and tariffs on Russia, tying the measures to a potential ceasefire. However, despite this warning, his administration took a significant step by temporarily halting Ukraine’s access to certain US satellite imagery, according to space technology firm Maxar. This follows Trump’s decision to pause military aid to Kyiv, further signaling a shift in US policy.
The move comes exactly one week after a tense White House exchange in which Trump publicly chastised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, calling him “disrespectful” to the US. That confrontation was followed by a total freeze on US military aid and intelligence-sharing with Ukraine.
Meanwhile, on Thursday night, Russia launched a massive missile and drone assault on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Trump’s threat of additional economic penalties against Moscow appeared to be a direct response to the attack. However, he later downplayed the situation, remarking that Russian President Vladimir Putin was merely acting as any leader would.
“I think he’s hitting them [Ukraine] harder than before,” Trump said. “And I think probably anyone in that position would be doing the same.”
Trump further suggested that while Putin might be open to ending the war, he was uncertain about Ukraine’s willingness to negotiate.
“I want to know that they [Ukraine] want to settle, and I don’t know if they do,” he said when pressed about his decision to cut off aid to Kyiv.
Trump’s approach to direct diplomacy with Putin has raised concerns among NATO allies, given the West’s long-standing policy of isolating Moscow following Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Nevertheless, there have been subtle shifts in tone from Trump’s foreign policy team, who, after cutting off military and intelligence support, now appear to be seeking a more conciliatory stance toward Ukraine.
Washington reportedly wants Zelensky to agree to a deal that would grant the US significant stakes in Ukraine’s mineral resources, as well as commit to a rapid truce with Moscow. Zelensky, however, has insisted on securing firm defence guarantees for Ukraine as part of any agreement.
On Friday, Trump dismissed the immediate need for such security commitments, saying they could be “the easy part” of future negotiations.
Meanwhile, Maxar that the US had temporarily suspended Ukraine’s access to high-resolution satellite imagery, a critical tool for battlefield intelligence. The decision, confirmed by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, aligns with the Trump administration’s evolving approach to support for Kyiv.
“The US government has decided to temporarily suspend Ukrainian accounts in the Global Enhanced GEOINT Deliver (GEGD) program,” Maxar stated. The program provides access to high-quality satellite imagery collected by US intelligence agencies.
The suspension marks another dramatic shift in Washington’s Ukraine policy, as the administration recalibrates its approach to the ongoing war.
