Reuters: Trump administration disbands group that was to pressure Russia to reach peace with Ukraine
17 June 17:20
In May 2025, the administration of US President Donald Trump suspended the work of an interagency working group created to increase pressure on Russia to speed up peace talks with Ukraine. Reuters reports this with reference to three American officials, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
The group has been operating since early spring, but its activities have come to a standstill due to a change in political course. According to the sources, Trump has lost interest in a tough approach against Moscow. Amid the lack of diplomatic breakthroughs, he began to voice doubts about the US mediation role in a peaceful settlement.
“Everything stopped because there was no political will. Instead of doing more, he seems to have decided to do less,” one official explained.
About three weeks ago, during a large-scale staffing update in the White House, most members of the National Security Council were fired, including the team responsible for Ukraine policy. It is unknown who made the decision to disband the group.
The existence of this group had not been officially reported before. It was coordinated by senior officials of the US National Security Service. Representatives of the State Department, the Defense Ministry, the Ministry of Finance, and the intelligence community were involved. Among the measures they developed were economic agreements, restrictions on trade with Russia, as well as ideas for special operations and diplomatic pressure on Eastern European and Asian countries, including Kazakhstan.
The cancellation of the group is a cause for concern among the US’s European allies, who fear that Trump is not ready to fully support Ukraine. At the same time, Reuters sources do not rule out that, if politically expedient, Trump may change course and take tougher action against Russia again.
