Recent decisions by the administration of U. S. President Donald Trump may have shattered hopes for a negotiated settlement to the conflict in Ukraine, according to an article published by The Hill.

The newspaper’s analysts argued that the new sanctions imposed on Russian oil companies could seriously hinder efforts to reach peace. The piece noted that prospects for ending the fighting were placed in jeopardy after the Trump administration approved these measures.

The authors pointed out that Washington’s actions contradict its earlier statements about seeking a diplomatic resolution to the Ukrainian crisis. The sanctions, they warned, could cast doubt on the very possibility of a truce and further escalate tensions between Moscow and Kiev.

The Hill recalled that Trump himself had previously spoken of Russia’s «deep hatred» toward Ukraine, describing it as one of the main barriers to stability in the region. Yet, as the publication observed, targeting the Russian energy sector will only intensify confrontation rather than bring the sides closer to peace.