In recent weeks, the Trump administration has quietly disbanded a working group formed to develop strategies for pressuring Russia into peace talks with Ukraine, three US officials told Reuters. The move follows a suspension of a separate initiative countering Russian disinformation. Trump’s broader peacemaking efforts, including in the Middle East, have also struggled in recent months.

Group lost momentum amid Trump’s waning interest

Set up earlier this spring, the inter-agency group included officials from the National Security Council (NSC), State Department, Treasury, Pentagon, and intelligence community. It lost relevance by May as Trump appeared increasingly uninterested in tougher action against Moscow.

“The effort […] lost steam toward the end because the president wasn’t there. Instead of doing more, maybe he wanted to do less,” one official said.

Officials said the group explored ways to pressure post-Soviet states to restrict trade with Russia, including incentives for Kazakhstan to curb sanctions evasion. However, no policies were enacted before the group’s shutdown.

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NSC purges sealed the group’s fate

Roughly three weeks ago, most members of the NSC’s Ukraine team were dismissed, including top Europe-Russia adviser Andrew Peek. The purge made it nearly impossible to continue the effort.

The existence of the group had not been publicly known. Its end raises concerns among European allies, especially ahead of an upcoming NATO summit, over Trump’s mixed signals on supporting Ukraine.

Shift in tone despite earlier frustration with Russia

The group was formed as Trump publicly expressed anger at Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying in March he was “pissed off” over attacks on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s legitimacy. Still, Trump has since suggested the US might abandon peace efforts altogether.

US President Donald Trump has delayed support for a new round of sanctions against Russia, saying they are too costly for the United States and that he wants to see if a peace agreement between Moscow and Kyiv can be reached first. His position has caused a rift with other G7 leaders, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, who are pushing ahead with new punitive measures.

Trump says sanctions are expensive and not one-sided

According to BBC and Suspilne, Trump told journalists during the G7 summit in Canada that he was not ready to support additional sanctions. When asked why the US was not taking unilateral action, Trump said it is because he was “waiting to see whether or not a deal” could be agreed between Ukraine and Russia.

He also mentioned the financial burden of sanctions on the US economy as another excuse. Trump said that “sanctions cost [the US] a lot of money” for the US. “You’re talking about billions and billions of dollars. Sanctions are not that easy. It’s not just a one-way street,” he claimed.

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Politico also reported Trump’s earlier remarks at the summit, where he said Europeans should “do it first” and repeated concerns over the economic cost.

The US President left the summit early on 16 June, ahead of a joint G7 session with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy scheduled for 17 June.

Starmer and Macron back tougher measures despite US hesitation

In contrast to Trump’s position, other G7 leaders continued to coordinate new sanctions. BBC reported that the UK would announce a new sanctions package targeting Russia’s military-industrial complex. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the measures were being finalized alongside other G7 partners and would “squeeze Russia’s energy revenues and reduce the funds they are able to pour into their illegal war.”

“The fact is, Russia doesn’t hold all the cards,” Starmer said.

Trump again blames both Ukraine and Russia for failing to reach a peace deal

Politico reported that French President Emmanuel Macron remained hopeful about potential US involvement. Macron said he had discussed the matter privately with Trump, who, according to Macron, responded “quite positively.” Macron said Trump indicated he would not currently block new US sanctions proposed by Republican lawmakers.

“This is very good news for me,” Macron said.

Sanctions talks focus on oil revenue and financial pressure

The discussions among G7 leaders also included a reassessment of the price cap on Russian crude oil, which had been set at $60 per barrel in December 2022. 

The European Commission is proposing to cut the cap to $45 per barrel, while Ukraine wants a more drastic cut to $30. The UK’s new sanctions are expected to align with the goal of weakening Russia’s energy revenue, which continues to finance its invasion of Ukraine.

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The BBC also reported that Ukraine’s Western partners are seeking a stronger package of economic penalties, with the European Commission’s 18th sanctions package proposing restrictions on Russia’s energy sector, banking system, and transactions related to the Nord Stream project.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth officially confirmed that anti-drone weapons intended for Ukraine were redirected to American forces stationed in the Middle East. The APKWS II anti-drone rocket systems “are at least part, if not the main focus of this diversion in matériel,” TWZ reported. Meanwhile, Senator McConnell says Washington’s reputation is “on the line.”

Testifying before the Senate Appropriations Committee on 11 June, Hegseth admitted for the first time that counter-UAS capabilities originally purchased for Ukraine under the Biden administration were instead prioritized for deployment in the CENTCOM area (North Africa – Middle East). 

“Senator, as you know, the Middle East is and remains a very dynamic theater,” Hegseth claimed. “We’re going to surge counter UAS systems to our troops and our bases and our places first […] that has been and will continue to be a priority for us.”

Zelenskyy previously warned of looming weapon loss

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told ABC News last week that the US had agreed to send “20,000 missiles – anti-Shahed missiles,” which are now being diverted. “Without the help of the United States, we will have more losses.”

TWZ noted that “there are no traditional missiles available anywhere near that number,” meanwhile, the APKWS system is produced in large volumes and is specifically effective against Shahed-136 suicide drones. 

“APKWS gives Ukraine another proven way to defend key target areas… without blowing through prized SAMs,” TWZ wrote,

The Wall Street Journal earlier reported that the Pentagon “quietly notified Congress” that APKWS-specific proximity fuzes were reassigned to US Air Force units. These fuzes are essential to converting APKWS rockets into counter-drone weapons.

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Senate tensions rise over confirmation

The public admission sparked renewed criticism from lawmakers. Republican Senator Mitch McConnell asked Hegseth which side he wanted to win the war, but Hegseth said the Trump administration sought an end to the killing without taking sides.

McConnell, a vocal Ukraine supporter, noted:

“It seems to me pretty obvious that America’s reputation is on the line,” McConnell said. “Will we defend Democratic allies against authoritarian aggressors?”

Later in the hearing, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham pressed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. Dan Caine on whether Russian President Vladimir Putin would stop at Ukraine.

“I don’t believe he is,” Gen. Caine responded, with Hegseth adding it “remains to be seen.”

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Graham, referencing his earlier comparison between Western inaction toward Putin and the appeasement of Adolf Hitler in the lead-up to World War II, quickly retorted:

“Well, he says he’s not. This is the ’30s all over. It doesn’t remain to be seen.”

APKWS 

The APKWS II are laser-guided 70mm rockets previously used by Ukraine to intercept Russia’s Iranian-designed Shahed drones and low-flying missiles. pods with such missiles have been forward-deployed with US’ F-15Es in Jordan and have been used in past months by US jets to down Houthi drones in the Red Sea. The same guidance kits are also used in the VAMPIRE counter-drone system previously supplied to Ukraine.

According to TWZ, videos from Ukraine in 2023 showed APKWS being used on Humvees, but the VAMPIRE system with counter-drone fuzes became more widespread by December 2023. These systems helped Ukraine defend key targets from Iranian-made kamikaze drones without depleting expensive SAM inventories.

Unclear future for US aid for Ukraine

Hegseth declined to specify how many APKWS rockets remain in stock or were sent to Ukraine. 

“We would have to review the capacity,” he said, adding that US support to Ukraine had allegedly created “some challenges in other places.”

Earlier on 10 June, Hegseth said a cut in US military aid to Ukraine is almost certain, citing the Trump administration’s “very different view” of Russia’s war compared to former President Joe Biden’s and calling an unrealistic “negotiated peaceful settlement” the best outcome for both sides and US interests.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the US is diverting 20,000 missiles previously promised to Ukraine toward the Middle East, a move he warns will increase casualties as Russia intensifies its aerial attacks.

Speaking to ABC News, Zelenskyy stated that his defense minister informed him on 6 June that the US was reassigning anti-drone weapons meant for Ukraine. According to him, these assets—originally part of an agreement with the Biden administration—would now support US force protection efforts in the Middle East.

“We counted on [them] to defend against Russian attacks,” Zelenskyy told ABC. “Without the help of the United States, we will have more losses.”

The Ukrainian president said the diverted items were “not expensive, but [a] special technology” designed specifically to combat Shahed drones, which Russia now produces domestically in thousands after importing them from Iran.

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This development comes amid a significant escalation in Russian air attacks. Overnight on 9 June, Russia launched a record number of aerial weapons – a total of 479 drones and 20 missiles across Ukraine. The next day, Russia launched 315 more drones and seven missiles, targeting Kyiv and Odesa. 

Pentagon avoids confirming missile redirection

ABC News says the Pentagon declined to confirm whether the anti-drone systems intended for Ukraine were now being sent to the Middle East. However, a report by the Wall Street Journal last week revealed that the Pentagon had authorized the transfer of such technology. 

“The Pentagon quietly notified Congress last week that special fuzes for rockets that Ukraine uses to shoot down Russian drones are now being allocated to US Air Force units in the Middle East,” WSJ wrote on 4 June.