July 2025.
As part of the program Regional Initiative for combating disinformation “Western Balkans Combatting disinformation Center: Exposing malicious influences through fact-checking and Analytical Journalism“, we present you a new analysis of fake news and disinformation narratives.
Is America definitely taking Ukraine’s side – and losing its seat at the negotiating table?
It has been three and a half years since the start of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, with no signs that the fighting will end soon. In recent months, the Russo-Ukrainian conflict has even intensified, with Russian offensive operations on the frontlines and more frequent drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities. According to various intelligence and independent sources, despite heavy losses, Russia has made only incremental advances along the frontlines this year.
More than six months into his term, Donald Trump has failed to fulfill one of his most ambitious pre-election promises — to stop the conflict. Despite various initiatives from the US side, as well as often incoherent policies and shifts in approach — from initially pressuring Ukraine and insisting on dialogue with Russia and willingness to make concessions — US actions have not produced significant results. After nearly three years, Russian and Ukrainian delegations met twice in Istanbul, where only a prisoner exchange was agreed upon. A one-month ceasefire on airstrikes during March and April was not extended.
Based on official statements and proposed memorandums, it is clear that Russia does not give up its maximalist demands that exceed the realities on the ground, touching on territorial issues and infringing on Ukraine’s sovereignty and independent foreign policy, as well as the European security architecture. On the other hand, Ukraine, supported by leading European countries, insists on a quick ceasefire, freezing the conflict along the frontlines, and securing security guarantees.
In mid-July, Donald Trump announced a new arrangement to supply Ukraine with weapons, under which the US would sell arms and equipment directly to NATO, financed by European member states, with NATO distributing them further to Ukraine. This decision sends a positive signal to Ukraine and European countries that the US is ready to continue its military support during Trump’s term, as previous deliveries had been left over from the Biden administration. At the same time, alongside increasingly critical messages, Trump set a new 50-day deadline for Russia to conclude a peace agreement, threatening new sanctions otherwise.
Although the global public has become somewhat accustomed to the (mostly two-week) deadlines set by the Trump administration, followed by new talks without real concessions or implementation of US threats, the July announcements triggered more critical coverage in Russian and pro-Russian media. An illustrative example is an article on the Serbian service of the Russian state media Sputnik titled “Is America definitely taking Ukraine’s side – and losing its seat at the negotiating table.”
Sputnik writes that “at this moment, the talk is about the delivery of weapons to Kyiv by America… but other voices also say that Trump is ready to accept Zelensky’s proposals.” It adds that “if Trump now practically takes Zelensky’s side… then those negotiations will not be able to continue so easily.” The article concludes that “there is no willingness from the West to pressure Kyiv enough to agree on a compromise solution.”
In a separate Sputnik report, it is emphasized that America has “struck Russia… but for Trump, it is best if Ukraine capitulates.” Meanwhile, the Serbian daily Politika wrote in the context of the Trump administration’s announcements that “Donald Trump… although on Monday he gave Russia a 50-day ultimatum to conclude a peace agreement… believes Moscow will win the Ukrainian conflict.”
In the period that followed, diplomatic activity among all interested parties was extremely intense. A summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin was organized in Alaska, after which Volodymyr Zelensky, together with several European leaders, visited the White House. The outcomes remain very limited. On one side, the US expressed for the first time a willingness to contribute to security guarantees for Ukraine, together with European countries, but Russia continues to strongly oppose such arrangements. On the other side, Trump pompously announced the organization of the first bilateral meeting between Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin, but it soon became clear that the Russian side was not ready to accept this meeting, while airstrikes on Ukrainian cities increased further, sending another signal of Russia’s current position.
Author: Igor Mirosavljević
