Donald Trump declared a diplomatic breakthrough on August 18 in his bid to prod Moscow and Kyiv closer to peace, announcing he had begun arranging for direct talks between Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Four days later, the optimism of the convicted felon occupying the White House had diminished. Russia’s top diplomat made it clear on August 22 that Putin won’t meet with Zelenskyy until the Ukrainians agree to some of Moscow’s longstanding demands to end the conflict.

It’s another stinging setback for Trump, who had been touting his diplomatic blitz as resulting in indisputable momentum for a deal to halt a conflict he vowed as a candidate to end on Day One in office.

Trump said on August 22 that he expected to make a decision on his next actions in two weeks

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