Trump-Putin Relations Hit Lowest Point as Secret Peace Channels Remain Open

By Marouan – The New York Diplomat

Washington/Moscow – What once looked like a budding partnership between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin has turned into one of the most precarious balancing acts of Trump’s second presidency. Yet, despite the harsh rhetoric and rising tensions, discreet diplomatic backchannels suggest that a deal to end the war in Ukraine is still within reach.

From Cooperation to Confrontation

Only months ago, Washington and Moscow appeared to be on parallel tracks. In February, the United States shocked European allies by siding with Russia at the United Nations, blocking a resolution condemning Moscow’s military actions in Ukraine. Trump officials openly questioned NATO’s relevance, while criticizing traditional partners like Canada and Denmark.

For the Kremlin, this was a diplomatic windfall. Russian state media hailed “Trumpism” as the force that had shattered Western unity and dismantled the transatlantic consensus.

But that honeymoon was short-lived.

Trump Turns Up the Heat

In recent weeks, President Trump has escalated pressure on Moscow with new ultimatums and the threat of sweeping tariffs on Russia’s remaining trade partners, including India and China. The White House confirmed that two U.S. nuclear submarines have been repositioned closer to Russian waters — a signal that Washington’s patience is running out.

“Russia’s relentless attacks on Ukrainian cities are disgusting and shameful,” Trump declared at a press conference last week, calling on Putin to end what he described as a “senseless bloodbath.”

He initially gave the Kremlin 50 days to halt its offensive, before shortening the deadline to just ten. That ultimatum expires this weekend.

Behind-the-Scenes Diplomacy

Despite the public standoff, Trump’s special envoy, real-estate magnate Steve Witkoff, has traveled to Moscow four times in the last two months. Sources familiar with the talks say Witkoff has spent hours in closed-door meetings with Putin, even receiving a personal portrait of Trump as a diplomatic gift — a gesture seen by insiders as a sign that Moscow still wants a channel of dialogue.

Diplomatic analysts believe Witkoff’s next visit could carry more incentives than threats. “Expect carrots, not just sticks,” one Moscow-based political scientist told The New York Diplomat. “Trump still sees himself as the ultimate dealmaker — he would rather close a peace deal than leave office with a frozen conflict.”

The Stakes

For Putin, the calculus is complex. He continues to insist on Ukraine’s neutrality, territorial concessions, and strict limits on its future military posture — conditions Kyiv has repeatedly rejected.

Meanwhile, Trump faces growing domestic pressure to deliver results. With the U.S. economy slowing and foreign policy becoming a key issue ahead of the 2026 midterms, the White House is eager to claim a diplomatic victory.

An Uncertain Endgame

Whether these two political heavyweights are truly on a collision course — or simply negotiating in public — remains unclear.

“Poutine will fight as long as he believes he can win. Trump will negotiate as long as he believes there is a deal to be made,” said Nina Khrushcheva, professor of international affairs at The New School in New York.

For now, the world watches as the clock ticks down on Trump’s ultimatum — a countdown that could bring either a ceasefire or a dangerous new escalation.