Ukraine and Gaza wars spill into the new year…Impatient Trump [Sang-eun Lee's Washington Now]

U.S. President Donald Trump’s mediation efforts over the war in Ukraine in Europe and the Gaza war in the Middle East have not easily reached a full stop. President Trump is stepping up last-minute pressure, but it is unclear whether a formal end or ceasefire can be achieved even after the new year.

Peace talks over the war in Ukraine were dampened by controversy over a drone attack on President Vladimir Putin’s residence. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told local reporters on the 29th (local time) that Ukraine attempted a drone attack on the president’s residence in Novgorod Oblast.

A day after President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a press conference at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida and said, “We are 95% of the way to a peace agreement (President Trump),” Russia raised allegations of an “attack on Putin” and appeared to draw a line.

Lavrov said a drone attack was attempted while Russia and the U.S. were negotiating to resolve the Ukraine conflict, and although there were no casualties or damage, he said Ukraine had “switched to a policy of terror” and that Russia would revise its position on negotiations. He also said that the targets and timing for retaliatory strikes by the Russian military had been decided.

In connection with this, President Trump told reporters at Mar-a-Lago that he was “not pleased” about the (attack) and that it was “not good.” He said he heard about the attack directly when he spoke with President Putin that morning and that he was “very angry.” He also criticized that “now is not an appropriate time for such actions.” Ukraine, however, insisted that Russia was “lying.” Ukraine did not admit to a drone attack on Putin’s residence itself, and the matter has moved into a he-said-she-said dispute.

There are also continuing criticisms that the differences between the two sides are much greater than was announced the day before. President Trump acknowledged that there are “a few thorny issues” between Russia and Ukraine. Russia demands the surrender of the entire Donbas, including the whole of Donetsk Oblast, while Ukraine says it intends to stop fighting on the current front. Regarding security guarantees for Ukraine, the U.S. and Europe are considering stationing troops in Ukraine, whereas Russia has consistently rejected such measures. European media have pointed out that security guarantees should be “imposed” on Russia rather than sought with Russia’s consent. The Guardian criticized President Trump’s remark that 95% agreement had been reached as “an extension of overly optimistic statements that began with his campaign promise to end the war within 24 hours of taking office.”

The Gaza war, which saw an Israel-Hamas peace agreement concluded last October, is likewise stalled in the implementation phase. The first-stage agreement to free Israeli hostages who had been abducted has been implemented, but second-stage measures—Israeli withdrawal, formation of a new Palestinian government, creation of an international stabilization force (ISF), and the start of Gaza reconstruction—are bogged down.

After meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Trump showed strong support for Israel at a press conference and urged the disarmament of Hamas. He said he would give Hamas a “very short period” to disarm and warned that if they did not do so within that period, “terrible things will happen to them.” He also said that 59 countries supported the Gaza peace plan and that if Hamas did not disarm itself, those countries would “wipe out Hamas.”

On Israel’s implementation of the peace agreement, he said he was “not worried about anything.” Regarding Israeli moves to establish settlements in the West Bank, he said, “I can’t say I agree 100%, but a conclusion will be reached soon.” Netanyahu presented President Trump with an "Israel Award" that day; Netanyahu explained that it was the first time a non-Israeli had received the award.

Meanwhile, regarding China’s encirclement military exercises around Taiwan, President Trump mentioned his good relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping and said, “He (President Xi) didn’t tell me anything about it, and I don’t think he will do that (an invasion of Taiwan).” He added, “Nothing worries me,” noting that “China has conducted naval exercises in the area for 20 years.” This view differs from external interpretations that attach deep significance to the current encirclement exercises.

Washington=Correspondent Sang-eun Lee selee@hankyung.com