By: Chethana Enugula
When the Russia-Ukraine War began on February 24th, 2022, many countries were alarmed by what is turning out to be one of the top armed conflicts seen in Europe since World War II. Even after three years of the war, its effects continue to alter the global political situation, economy, and security arrangements. Many people have faced terrible outcomes, with many killed, numerous displaced, and cities reduced to ruins. Since the war continues and peace negotiations have not shown many results, questions emerge whether the United States of America (USA) can bring about a ceasefire in this situation. This piece analyses the prospects for the USA to act as an intermediary for peace, including past background, the difficulties of such efforts, relations with the world, and reasons for getting involved.
The United States has played an Important Role in dealing with Global Conflicts
For many years, the United States has worked to solve global conflicts as a leading country. After the Second World War, the U.S. took on the role of forming the liberal international order by building groups such as the United Nations, NATO, the IMF, and the World Bank that worked for global peace and economic growth. Although most of the Cold War featured proxy wars, the United States, at times, helped settle many disputes. Because of the Camp David Accords (1978), President Jimmy Carter helped Israel and Egypt end their long-standing and deadly wars. In the same way, the Dayton Accords (1995), arranged by President Clinton’s team, ended the Bosnian War and started building peace in the Balkans.
American diplomacy has been successful when the country acted as a major mediator, supported by many powerful nations. Still, they point out that no two conflicts are the same. History, regional relationships, politics within the countries, and power all over the world are important in determining American influence on wars.
The Involvement of the USA in the Russia-Ukraine War
During the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the United States has made it clear to the world that it supports Ukraine. From the time the Russian invasion started in February 2022, the USA declared that the actions were both illegal and against Ukraine’s national sovereignty. Thanks to NATO and other Western countries, Russia was dealt with sanctions, and significant assistance in various forms was given to Kyiv. Because of this, Ukraine is not giving up and is able to keep fighting back.
For this reason, Moscow thinks of the USA as a debated subject in its foreign policy affairs. In Russia’s opinion, the USA’s main goal is to weaken Russian authority on important matters, including the economy and security. Due to this situation, Russia does not agree to any negotiations organized by the U.S. So, even though the USA has much influence over Ukraine, its role as a mediator with Russia has been severely damaged.
The state of the war at the Moment
Nowadays, the war has grown into a protracted struggle involving many casualties. Nobody has achieved total control over the region. Even though Ukraine, supported by the West, fights hard and can sometimes push back, Russia still possesses large areas in eastern Ukraine, for example, Crimea, which was annexed by Moscow in 2014. Many lives in the military have been lost on both sides. Ukrainian citizens are being displaced in significant numbers, and the country’s infrastructure has suffered huge damage.
It is important to note that Ukraine still depends mainly on help from the West in terms of money and arms. If the U.S. and NATO allies failed to support Ukraine with funds and equipment continuously, its strength would weaken significantly. Even so, Russian sanctions have been tough, but selling energy to China and India has helped them steadily improve the state of their economy. On the other hand, spending on war and being shut off from the world add to the country’s problems. However, neither government is ready to give up anything, which means it is very tough for them to reach a ceasefire agreement.
Problems with the American Mediation
Relations between the USA and Russia are now lower than they were during the Cold War. Ever since 2022, they have both exchanged ambassadors, stopped official conversations, and ended most joint activities. Negotiations about reducing arms and common concerns between the countries are no longer happening. Sanctions imposed by the USA are hitting some of Russia’s main areas of importance, and American-made weapons are fighting the Russian army in Ukraine.
In Russia’s opinion, the USA’s actions turn it into a participant in the war instead of a passive witness. Supporters of Russia treat any American peace offer as unfair. On top of that, America’s strong actions in both financial, military, and diplomatic areas exclude it from the role of neutral peace broker.
The USA has experienced political disagreements within its borders.
To begin with, Biden got support from both Democrats and Republicans for backing Ukraine. With time, U.S. politics is seeing more division as the war goes on. Certain members of the Republicans, mainly those on the far right, are arguing that the nation is giving out billions abroad when its domestic issues are not addressed. With time, more members of the public want the United States to focus on diplomacy and seek less involvement in world affairs.
The mixed determination of American leaders makes other countries question America’s position in the world. If there are changes in Congress or a new president, and the U.S. seems uncertain to help, it might undermine Ukraine’s trust and Russia’s spirit for negotiation. Therefore, politics inside the U.S. have direct effects on the country’s reputation in international affairs.
Is peace considered an interest or a result of international policies?
The country’s main strategy in Europe is to stop Russian growth, protect NATO’s solidarity, and reinforce the liberal rules-based system. In some instances, working for a lasting peace goes against some of these main goals. If the USA urges a truce before Ukraine agrees, it could look like abandoning a friend or allowing Russia to keep anything that it has occupied.
Equally, suppose the U.S. cannot negotiate or ends up giving military help for a long time without progress. In that case, the risks include making the war go on, suffering more injuries, and driving patience thin worldwide. Thus, the USA must manage its strategy, ethics, and diplomacy together, and this calls for both careful thinking and a long-range approach.
The need for unity among various countries
Since Russia is not fully open to U.S. engagement, working with other countries could be the best idea. Among Russia and Ukraine, Turkey, India, and China keep up friendly relations and are recognized for being more neutral. Certainly, Turkey arranged the deal that allowed millions of tons of grain to move out of the Black Sea region in 2022. Neighbours of Russia, such as India and China, are worried about the effects of the war on human lives.
The USA could support such efforts by giving diplomatic support, supplying money for reconstruction, or acting as a co-signer of agreements. The UN, OSCE, or G20 platforms allow the international community to host ceasefire talks in which all interested parties feel respected. The strategy would boost the legitimacy of the community and decrease claims that Western countries are controlling it.
Possible Ways for a Ceasefire to Happen
Sometimes, there are imagined situations in which resuming negotiations could make sense. If the fighting becomes too much for either side and they can’t keep up, they could agree to settle the conflict through talks. Yet, another situation could come up if war and economic sanctions create an internal crisis for either nation, since this could give rise to leaders who do not share the same beliefs.
Another danger is that the situation might get worse. If the war goes outside Ukraine, with an attack on one of the NATO nations, then all countries involved must do their best to prevent a wider war. As energy shortages, not having enough food, and inflation affect many, the international community may put more importance on ensuring peace. The USA can still get involved in these scenarios, regardless of taking the lead in the talks.
Ukraine’s Precarious Position and the Looming NATO Summit
Today’s geopolitical situation is characterized by various past influences and recent urgent crises that go above and beyond what has happened in the past. Due to the influence of the Trump administration, the relationship between the United States and Russia is still unstable. Nearly no economic trade takes place between the powers; instead, there is a strong sanctions regime that is the major foundation for their ties. It is most noticeable with regard to the Ukraine crisis. A confirmed event took place in early March 2025, showing that the U.S. paused military aid to Ukraine, making many people quite concerned. A deal was reached after important discussions between U.S. and Ukrainian officials that took place in Saudi Arabia, making the Kingdom very important for restoring the arms to Ukraine.
The documentary reveals that Ukraine’s situation is in great danger since it has not yet joined NATO. Even though some statements of support have been made, there is still no official invitation, and doubts about this alliance remain. Meanwhile, Russia holds firm in saying it considers Ukraine’s membership a serious security risk for its nation. Because of the situation, the NATO summit on June 24th has become very important. Choices taken at the summit will control how long the alliance will help Kyiv and how its policy will form toward Russia, both being crucial for worldwide security.
The U.S.’s Concern about Fairness
Having a strong international role, the United States is obligated to act morally. The conflict has caused as many as 14 million people to move away, left cities in ruins, and killed lots of civilians. The more time the war goes on, the greater its negative impact, mainly on the weakest people. With its resources and worldwide power, the USA ought to help stop the hardships that people face.
While it may not be able to make peace directly, the USA can help by assisting groups providing humanitarian aid, fixing basic services, and using reliable people to guide talks. An agreement that honours national boundaries and laws would keep America known as a U.S. nation for good.
Even though the U.S. plays an important part in seeking peace in the Russia–Ukraine conflict, it is a role filled with difficulties. The USA’s influence has made sure the country remains involved in helping Ukraine and leading responses at the international level. On the other hand, this deep loyalty to Ukraine makes the USA look like it is against Russia, which doesn’t want to involve the USA in settlement talks. Furthermore, disagreements in the United States create worries about their dedication in the long run, considering that the public and representatives are showing increasing apathy and resistance.
Therefore, the USA might not be the ideal choice for carrying out direct mediation. It should rather focus on giving support, using countries such as Turkey, India, or China to mediate between different nations. Getting involved in negotiations between countries by using the UN or OSCE and co-guaranteeing the agreements allows the USA to be significant without taking control.
It is not possible to achieve lasting peace if only one nation uses power. Everyone involved should be willing to cooperate, trust international law, and be ready to make compromises. America should keep its goals in check, as it should put effort into supporting peace, diplomacy, aid, and worldwide teamwork. A fair and steady end to the conflict can only be achieved after the monopolizing force.
