US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the presidential envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg do not see the desire for peace on the side of Moscow and warn of the Kremlin's too much trust.
Putin ignores the suspension of a weapon that the US demands and delays negotiations, while bombing Ukrainian cities cassette ammunition. A special shock in the American administration and around the world was caused by the massacre on Palm Sunday, April 13, during which the ramparts rockets fell on civilians at the center of the Ukrainian city, which was a clear violation of all Russia's assurances towards Trump.
According to The Wall Street Journal, surrounded by the President of the United States, there is a dispute about how hard Donald Trump should be against the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. While the discussions take place behind closed doors, two camps emerge among Trump's closest advisers.
Rubio and Kellog are supposed to advise the US President so that he does not agree to any concessions to Russia until Moscow claims his rights to Ukrainian territory and do not stop attacks.
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Trump's advisers, however, do not agree on this issue, and Trump seems to now listen to his envoy Steve Witkoff, who has already talked to Putin in Moscow twice personally and is convinced that the Russian dictator wants peace.
Witkoff seemed moved after dialogues with Putin and repeated Russian propaganda, causing consternation in Kiev and EU capitals.
Al Drago / Bloomberg via Getty Images / Contributor / Getty Images
Special US envoy for the Middle East (de facto also for Ukraine) Steve Witkoff (illustration photos)
The facts say clearly: Russia ignored the suspension of the weapon, which Trump demanded and delays negotiations. Instead, the Kremlin uses the time gained for further military expansion – apparently in the hope of forcing greater concessions at the negotiating table.
Trump: Putin “largely responsible” for the war
A brutal Russian attack, in which 34 civilians were killed on Palm Sunday on April 13, and over 100 wounded, he tightened the tensions even more in the White House. While Trump described the massacre as a “mistake” and blamed Joe Biden, Rubio and Kellogg got more blunt words about the massacre by the Russians.
Rubio called the attack “cruel and tragic” and Kellogg wrote on the X platform with “exceeding all limits of decency”
Donald Trump himself also criticized Vladimir Putin – which rarely happens – and said that the Russian president is “largely responsible” for the war, but once again he also charged his predecessor Joe Biden and the Ukrainian president of Wołodymyr Zelanski. However, Trump has not yet drawn any specific consequences for the Russian Federation, such as establishing new sanctions aimed at the export of Russian oil
According to “The Wall Street Journal”, intensive debates are taking place in the White House about whether sanctions against Russia should be tightened to force Putin to negotiate.
Massacre on Palm Sunday in Ukraine
On Palm Sunday, April 13, Russia carried out a rocket attack on the city of a sum, as a result of which at least 35 people were killed, and as many as 117 were injured (as of April 15, 2025)
Military analyst and former officer of the armed forces of Ukraine Ivan Stupak said in an interview with “New Gazieta” that the Russian army hit in the city center with ballistic missiles, of which at least one had a head loaded with shards. The use of cassette ammunition against defenseless civilians during the holiday is in the unanimous opinion of experts and observers a war crime and an act of special bestiality. He stated the same, among others Friedrich Merz, most likely the future Chancellor of Germany.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
