President Donald Trump delivered a sharp ultimatum to Russian President Vladimir Putin this month: agree to a peace deal with Ukraine—or face global sanctions on Russia’s top export, oil.
It’s the first time since returning to the White House that Trump has directly tied international sanctions to a peace agreement. The move comes as part of a broader arms deal with NATO allies, who will now be authorized to purchase U.S. weapons and deliver them to Ukraine.
Fred Fleitz, Trump’s former National Security Council chief of staff, says the strategy will work—but not overnight.
“He’s going to continue to push Putin to return to the bargaining table and negotiate in good faith,” Fleitz told Fox News Digital. “This may take a couple of years to solve.”
Trump had campaigned on ending the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, but governing has proven more complex. Not all Republicans are on board with his shift.
Pushback from Within the GOP
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a strong Trump ally, voiced her disapproval.
“We do not want to give or sell weapons to Ukraine or be involved in any foreign wars,” Greene posted on X. “We want to solve our own problems.”
Senator JD Vance, now serving as Vice President, has also criticized continued military aid to Ukraine, warning that the U.S. lacks the production capacity to support a prolonged war effort.
Trump, however, countered those claims last week during a joint appearance with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, saying:
“We want to defend our country. But, ultimately, having a strong Europe is a very good thing.”
Military Aid and a Peace Vision
Under the new deal, top U.S. weapons will be sold to NATO and supplied to Ukraine. But experts warn that the war’s outcome will still depend on what happens on the battlefield.
John Hardie of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies told lawmakers on the Helsinki Commission that Ukraine must be allowed to strike Russian weapons plants.
“Ukraine shouldn’t be restricted merely to shooting down ‘arrows,’” Hardie said. “They need to hit the ‘archer’—and the factories making the arrows.”
Hardie added that Putin will keep fighting as long as the war appears sustainable and offers strategic gains.
A Possible Armistice?
Fleitz, now with the America First Policy Institute, believes the war may eventually end with an armistice, not a formal peace treaty.
“I think there’s probably going to be an armistice where both sides agree to suspend the fighting.”
He suggested Ukraine may agree to delay NATO membership, while Western powers continue to arm Kyiv as a deterrent against future Russian aggression.
“Maybe this is a pipe dream,” Fleitz said, “but I think that’s the most realistic way to stop the fighting. Peacemaking takes time.”
