1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

The U.S. cannot simply walk away from the Ukraine-Russia peace negotiations. Russia's intransigence and refusal to compromise risks prolonging the conflict indefinitely if the U.S. withdraws its mediating role. Abandoning diplomacy would only embolden Putin and remove pressure for Russia to seek a legitimate diplomatic solution. Instead, the U.S. should ramp up economic pressure through enhanced sanctions while maintaining its position at the negotiating table. Threatening to disengage plays into Putin's hands by incentivizing Russia to stall talks until the U.S. loses patience. Continued U.S. engagement, backed by punitive economic measures for noncompliance, gives Russia a reason to make meaningful concessions for peace. The path forward requires sustained American leadership. Walking away would be a strategic mistake that rewards Russian aggression and diminishes hopes for a diplomatic resolution to this devastating conflict. The U.S. must remain resolved in its pursuit of a negotiated settlement that respects Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.