Trump's Diplomatic Struggles: A Study in Contrasts Between Gaza and Ukraine

Fri Oct 24 2025 10:38:54 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Examining the stark differences in Donald Trump's diplomatic efforts regarding the Israel-Gaza conflict and the ongoing war in Ukraine, as negotiations face unexpected hurdles and complexities.

Donald Trump's recent attempts to negotiate peace in Gaza have succeeded, contrasting sharply with his stalled efforts to engage with Vladimir Putin over Ukraine. While Trump managed a breakthrough with a ceasefire in Gaza, his proposed summit with Putin has been indefinitely suspended, highlighting the different dynamics at play in these geopolitical conflicts.

Reports of an impending US-Russia leadership summit have been greatly exaggerated, it seems.

Just days after Donald Trump said he planned to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest - 'within two weeks or so' - the summit has been suspended indefinitely.

A preliminary get-together by the two nations' top diplomats has been cancelled, too.

I don't want to have a wasted meeting, President Trump told reporters at the White House. I don't want to have a waste of time, so I'll see what happens.

The on-again, off-again summit is just the latest twist in Trump's efforts to broker an end to war in Ukraine – a subject of renewed focus for the US president after he arranged a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza.

While making remarks in Egypt last week to celebrate that ceasefire agreement, Trump turned to Steve Witkoff, his lead diplomatic negotiator, with a new request.

We have to get Russia done, he said.

However, the circumstances that aligned to make a Gaza breakthrough possible may be difficult to replicate in a Ukraine war that has been raging for nearing four years.

Less leverage

According to Witkoff, the key to unlocking a deal was Israel's decision to attack Hamas negotiators in Qatar. It was a move that infuriated America's Arab allies but gave Trump leverage to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu into making a deal.

Trump benefited from a long record of siding with Israel, including pivotal decisions like moving the US embassy to Jerusalem and endorsing military campaigns against Iran. This support garnered him unique political influence.

However, in the Ukraine conflict, Trump has much less leverage. Over the past months, he has swung between threatening sanctions on Putin and making conciliatory gestures toward Zelensky, with little impact.

Trump's meetings with both leaders have been unproductive, showcasing the complexity of finding peace amidst persistent conflict.

Finally, it has become clear that Trump's belief in his deal-making prowess does not easily translate into diplomatic success, especially in a scenario where neither side seeks to yield.