Trump Faces Fierce Backlash for ‘Selling Out Ukraine’

President Donald Trump is facing growing criticism over his approach to Russia’s war in Ukraine, with opponents warning that his efforts to secure a peace agreement could hand Vladimir Putin a major victory while leaving Ukraine dangerously vulnerable.

The controversy intensified after Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, met with Putin in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, October 21, for nearly three hours of negotiations aimed at ending the conflict. Although Russia agreed in principle to resume peace talks with Ukraine and the United States, Moscow offered few signs that it was prepared to abandon its most controversial demands.

Those demands include Russian control over the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk and guarantees that Ukraine will never join NATO, conditions Kyiv has long resisted.

For critics of the Trump administration, the concern is that Washington appears increasingly willing to pressure Ukraine into making concessions while offering Moscow economic incentives and relief from sanctions.

The diplomatic breakthrough also came with a troubling reminder of the war’s brutality. Just hours after Putin expressed a willingness to return to negotiations, Russian forces launched another massive missile and drone assault on Ukraine, striking residential neighborhoods and critical infrastructure.

At least four people were killed across Ukraine, while dozens more were injured in attacks that continued into Thursday. Ukrainian officials reported damage to apartment buildings, energy facilities and transportation systems in Kyiv as the country prepares for another difficult winter.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the strikes, arguing that Russia’s actions showed little genuine interest in ending the fighting.

“Russia has not changed the way it wages this war,” Zelenskyy said, questioning Moscow’s commitment to peace.

The latest developments have added to concerns about Trump’s recent decision to ease sanctions on Russian energy exports and pursue a deal involving Russian diesel fuel. The administration has defended its diplomatic strategy as an effort to reduce energy costs and encourage negotiations, but critics warn that easing financial pressure could strengthen Putin’s position without securing meaningful concessions.

The controversy took another turn when Witkoff publicly praised Putin as a “humanitarian” after the Russian president authorized the release of Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old American teacher who had spent more than four years in Russian custody.

Hubbard’s release was welcomed as a significant achievement, but Witkoff’s description of the Russian leader sparked outrage in Washington.

Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona questioned how Putin could be described in such terms, pointing to Russia’s attacks on civilians and its record of political repression. Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut also condemned the envoy’s praise.

The criticism was not limited to Democrats. Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina called Witkoff’s remarks embarrassing and outrageous, while Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas described Putin as a killer.

Trump defended his envoy, suggesting that the praise was appropriate in the context of securing Hubbard’s freedom. The president emphasized that the United States had not exchanged another prisoner or made a direct concession to obtain the American’s release.

Vice President JD Vance also defended Witkoff, arguing that diplomacy sometimes requires expressing appreciation when a foreign leader takes a constructive step.

Still, the broader disagreement centers on whether Trump’s diplomatic approach will produce a lasting peace or allow Russia to benefit from a war it launched in February 2022.

European leaders have repeatedly stressed that any settlement must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and include credible security guarantees to prevent another Russian invasion. They fear that an agreement allowing Moscow to retain territory seized by force could weaken European security and encourage future aggression.

Those concerns have become especially urgent as questions persist about American military assistance, intelligence sharing and Ukraine’s ability to defend itself against Russian missile attacks.

Despite the criticism, Trump maintains that negotiations are the best way to stop the bloodshed. His administration hopes to restart three-way discussions involving representatives from Washington, Moscow and Kyiv as early as November, potentially in Abu Dhabi.

But significant obstacles remain. Putin has shown little willingness to compromise on Russia’s territorial demands, while Zelenskyy insists that Ukraine must have a meaningful role in determining its future.

For now, no peace agreement has been reached, and the fighting continues.

The challenge facing Trump is no longer simply whether he can bring Putin to the negotiating table. It is whether he can secure an agreement that ends the war without rewarding Russia’s invasion or leaving Ukraine exposed to another devastating conflict.