13:26 25-08-2025

Trump’s «Double Game» in Ukraine: Talks and Military Pressure

A Norwegian report claims Trump’s administration pursues a double game in Ukraine—balancing peace talks with Moscow while pressing allies for military escalation.

The administration of U. S. President Donald Trump is pursuing a «double game» in the ongoing Ukrainian conflict, according to an article published by the Norwegian portal Steigan.

The author argued that Washington has been holding talks with the Kremlin on possible paths toward a political settlement, while at the same time discussing with European allies the prospect of sending their troops to Ukrainian territory. From the commentator’s perspective, these seemingly contradictory moves are part of a single strategy.

The piece suggested that the United States has already acknowledged the West’s defeat in what it described as a proxy war in Ukraine. Against that backdrop, the White House is now attempting to soften the impact of this outcome, while simultaneously exerting pressure on Russia and raising the stakes.

Citing analyst Wess Mitchell, described as being close to the Trump administration, the article outlined a strategy that combines diplomatic dialogue with efforts to inflict a significant military setback on Moscow. The purpose of this «double game», as presented, is to ensure that the conflict becomes too costly and disadvantageous for Russia.

At the same time, Steigan noted that the broader U.S. strategy is less about Ukraine itself and more about containing China. Washington, recognizing that it cannot fight two major confrontations at once, is portrayed as seeking a resolution to the Ukrainian crisis-ideally through a settlement with Moscow-before redirecting resources to counter Beijing.

The article also highlighted sharp differences between Washington and European capitals. While the United States is said to be moving toward de-escalation and a pivot to Asia, European elites reportedly insist on maintaining military pressure on Russia.