How Trump’s unshackling of Ukraine could force Putin to talk peace
How Trump’s unshackling of Ukraine could force Putin to talk peace
Joe BarnesThu, June 18, 2026 at 5:39 PM UTC
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Smoke billows behind an Orthodox church in Moscow on Thursday in an attack that perfectly sums up Kyiv's success in developing long-range weapons - EPA/Shutterstock
Out of both curiosity and frustration, Donald Trump asked Volodymyr Zelensky last summer whether Ukraine would be able to strike Moscow and St Petersburg.
By questioning the deep-strike capabilities of the Ukrainian president's armed forces, he was essentially spitballing ways to exert enough pressure on Vladimir Putin to bring him to the negotiating table.
At first it did not seem possible.
America never supplied the Tomahawks Mr Zelensky thought he needed. And, despite being hugely capable, Ukraine's domestic drone industry was not able to produce the weapons in the required numbers to penetrate the thick layer of air defences around Russia's capital.
But Mr Trump's inquisitiveness was enough to turbocharge the effort to concentrate the minds and increase production in order to take the fight to Russia.
US Tomahawks would have put Moscow in range of Kyiv's strikes. Trump said No but Ukraine found a way in the end - Reuters
Fast forward a year, Moscow has been overwhelmed by a massive wave of drone attacks and there are almost daily videos published of drones and missiles flying deep beyond the border in the direction of Russian oil and gas facilities.
Ukraine's unmanned systems forces have worked out exactly how to dodge and overwhelm Putin's air defences across the country.
While Kyiv's defence industry is able to keep up with the demand for its flying bombs.
Volodymyr Zelensky asked Donald Trump at the G7 summit for his help. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian was planning an awesome attack on Moscow that he thought Mr Trump could surely only be impressed by - EPA/Shutterstock
Most crucially, this is being done almost entirely independently of the US, meaning the White House has little leverage over the attacks.
This success is finally being acknowledged by Ukraine's European allies, as well as Mr Trump.
When footage emerged of a lid being blown off of a fuel storage tank at the Moscow refinery in Kapotnya on the city's south-eastern outskirts, delegations inside Nato were jubilant, a source said.
For years, Kyiv has been faced with its allies believing it was a case of when and not if Russia would win the war.
Now suddenly there is a growing sense that Ukraine, largely thanks to its long-range strikes, has seized the initiative on the battlefield and can use this momentum to force Putin to the table.
Credit: X/@visegrad24
A joint statement signed by the G7 leaders, including Mr Trump, at a summit in France earlier this week pledges that they will not waste this momentum.
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Mr Zelensky was told to expect more offensive weapons in the shape of long-range capabilities and crucially-needed air defence supplies to guard against Russian retaliation.
New sanctions to further squeeze Moscow's war-weary economy were also promised, in the hope it only further encourages Putin to agree to a ceasefire.
What was notable about the G7 statement was it was the first time the leaders of the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Canada and Japan had been able to reach a consensus on foreign policy with Mr Trump.
Previously, the US president had been reluctant to sign up to a positive statement in case it impacted his efforts to mediate peace with his Russian counterpart.
There are several ideas floating around as to why Mr Trump was so happy to change direction in favour of Kyiv.
But the main one is that he simply loves winners.
Much was made of his Oval Office spat with Mr Zelensky, when he said the Ukrainian held no cards and was facing a certain military defeat.
Now after years of holding off Russian advances, Ukrainian forces are regaining land and delivering impressive strikes into the heart of the capital.
Vladimir Putin is seen at the Russia-Asean summit in Kazan seemingly oblivious to the events in Moscow or perhaps too shocked to comment - Anastasia Barashkova/Reuters
It is still unclear whether Putin will come to the table at all. Yuri Ushakov, a Kremlin aide, said the attacks were pushing back the prospect of any direct contact between Putin and Mr Zelensky.
But Ukraine and its European allies know their best chance of making it happen is with Mr Trump's support.
They know they have a narrow window of opportunity before the US president likely becomes distracted, as he has done on numerous occasions before, with issues like Greenland and Iran.
The seriousness of the G7 statement can be viewed through the Russian complaints.
On Thursday, Mr Ushakov was busy claiming that Mr Trump was being pumped through harmful ideas by the Europeans in attendance at the summit.
This can only be seen as an attempt to break the renewed backing of the US president for the plans presented by Ukraine and its European allies.
It is the go-to tactic of Putin and his cronies when they know their backs are against the wall.
Source: “AOL Breaking”
