Ukraine War Persists Past Trump’s 2023 Pledge
The conflict has continued for over 4.5 years despite recent high-level diplomatic efforts and shifting trade policies.
By Anthony Lawson ·
The war between Russia and Ukraine has now lasted more than four and a half years. Fighting persists on the ground despite President Donald Trump’s repeated campaign promises to end the conflict quickly after taking office.
Trump first outlined his plan during a July 7, 2023, rally in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He told the crowd he would settle the war before arriving at the Oval Office. “I want people to stop dying,” he said at the event, defining his position on the conflict.
Since assuming office, the President has pursued direct diplomacy. He met twice with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House. He also met once with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, in August 2025. After that summit, Trump described the session as productive but noted that major disagreements remained. “There’s no deal until there’s a deal,” he said.
Trade policy has also shifted regarding Moscow. On September 18, Trump signed the Lindsey Graham Act, a bipartisan measure that imposed sanctions and tariffs on Russia. The legislation was named after the late South Carolina senator. Less than a month later, on October 16, Trump signed an executive order waiving those specific sanctions.
