Trump’s Global Peace Push Falters as Gaza Ceasefire Talks Collapse

President Donald Trump‘s latest bid to end the war in Gaza hit a major roadblock this week as the United States abruptly withdrew from ceasefire negotiations, casting doubt on his broader ambitions to act as a global peacemaker.

In just six months back in office, Trump has launched several high-profile peace initiatives. But most have faced stalled negotiations, geopolitical resistance, or vague outcomes — raising questions about both his strategy and sincerity.

Gaza Talks Collapse Amid Standoff

On Thursday, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff announced that American negotiators were leaving Qatar, where talks with Hamas had dragged on without results. The U.S. cited a lack of “good faith” from Hamas but did not elaborate.

“They’re going to be hunted down,” Trump told reporters, dismissing the possibility of a deal and blaming Hamas for the failure.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the White House earlier this month, but no major breakthroughs followed. The U.S. now says it is “exploring alternative options” to bring Israeli hostages home, without explaining what those might be.

Ukraine War Still Rages

Before returning to the presidency, Trump promised to end the Russia-Ukraine war in 24 hours. That hasn’t happened. The conflict drags on, and while Trump has criticized Vladimir Putin’s offensive, he has rejected bipartisan sanctions aimed at pressuring Russia.

Instead, Trump gave Russia a 50-day window to accept a peace deal or face energy export sanctions. That delay allowed Russia to intensify attacks, further complicating negotiations.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy offered to meet Putin directly, but Russia dismissed the proposal. Talks between mid-level officials in Istanbul failed to yield progress.

Iran: Ceasefire, But No Deal

Trump helped broker a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Iran after joint military strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites. However, there is still no agreement on limiting Iran’s nuclear program.

Iran said it’s open to talks — but only if the U.S. takes steps to rebuild trust. Meanwhile, Iran continues parallel negotiations with European nations from the 2015 nuclear deal, which Trump previously exited.

Some Limited Successes

Despite setbacks, Trump has scored a few diplomatic wins:

  • Rwanda–DR Congo Agreement: In June, he hosted the signing of a peace deal aimed at ending decades of conflict. The deal also secures access to critical minerals for U.S. companies.

  • India–Pakistan Ceasefire: After tensions escalated in May, Trump intervened. A ceasefire was achieved, and he pledged to find a solution for the Kashmir conflict. However, no formal agreement has followed.

  • Syria–Israel Truce: Trump’s envoy Tom Barrack brokered a limited ceasefire earlier this month. Talks in Paris laid groundwork for de-escalation, but full normalization remains out of reach.

The Nobel Prize Ambition

Trump has openly stated he wants to win the Nobel Peace Prize, and his allies — including Netanyahu — have submitted nominations. Critics, however, argue that his efforts have been more about prestige than durable diplomacy.

“These are complex, multi-layered conflicts. Wishing them away doesn’t work,” said one diplomat familiar with the stalled negotiations.