On April 26, 2025, The Telegraph published an article by retired British Army Colonel and military analyst Richard Kemp, highlighting a critical moment in the ongoing Ukraine conflict. According to Kemp, actions taken by Russian President Vladimir Putin have pushed U.S. President Donald Trump into greater involvement in seeking a resolution to the war. However, Kemp suggests that despite this new engagement, the broader course of the war is unlikely to change.
The article points to a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Trump, suggesting that a full ceasefire now appears closer than at any point since the conflict began. Yet Kemp warns that at this stage, Ukraine may be forced into making difficult concessions to achieve peace.
Reports indicate that the Trump-Zelensky meeting occurred informally during the funeral ceremonies for Pope Francis in Vatican City. During their discussions, possible frameworks for ending hostilities were reviewed. Following the meeting, President Trump reportedly expressed skepticism about Putin’s sincerity in seeking a true end to the conflict, despite Moscow’s public claims of pursuing peace.
According to Kemp, while Trump’s direct involvement marks a significant shift in Washington’s approach to Ukraine, Putin’s strategic position remains largely unaffected. Kemp underlines that Ukraine, exhausted by years of warfare and facing mounting international pressure, might be compelled to accept painful compromises, particularly regarding territorial disputes.
The situation remains fluid, but Kemp’s analysis paints a sober picture: diplomatic moves initiated under American pressure may bring a ceasefire closer, but they are unlikely to deliver a decisive victory for Ukraine. Instead, the country may have to weigh difficult decisions in the name of ending the violence.
