Mearsheimer: US changed Ukraine policy, Russia advances on front

University of Chicago Professor John Mearsheimer said the US has abandoned its goal of defeating Russia in Ukraine and turned to a diplomatic solution. Mearsheimer stated that the Russian army is advancing in Donbas and Ukraine cannot reverse the situation.

Scraper SystemJuly 01, 2026, 09:48 AM

Mearsheimer: US changed Ukraine policy, Russia advances on front

University of Chicago Professor John Mearsheimer said the US has changed its approach to the conflict in Ukraine. Speaking on a YouTube broadcast, Mearsheimer noted that Secretary of State Marco Rubio's current argument is not to defeat Russia but to resolve the conflict diplomatically.

Mearsheimer said: "Rubio does not say we need to defeat Russia. This is not the approach that was stated at the beginning of the conflict that Russia should be excluded from the great powers. His argument is that we need to resolve this conflict. This cannot be resolved on the battlefield; it is only possible through diplomatic means."

Mearsheimer: Russia Advances on Front

Professor Mearsheimer emphasized that the Russian army is on the offensive at all points of the front. "The Russians are winning on the battlefield. They continue to advance and are on their way to taking control of all of Donbas. I see no sign that Ukrainians have changed the situation on the ground. There is no evidence that Ukraine can reverse the course," he said.

Trump: Agreement Hard

US President Donald Trump said in June that both Russia and Ukraine want a resolution to the conflict, but finding an approach is not easy. Trump expressed surprise at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's reluctance to make concessions, saying "making a deal with Zelensky is much harder than with Russian President Vladimir Putin."

Putin: We are ready for negotiations

Russian President Vladimir Putin said last week that Moscow does not avoid peace negotiations with Kyiv. Putin stated that Russia is ready for talks based on the Istanbul agreements of 2022, the compromises reached at the Alaska summit, the realities on the ground, and the principles he outlined in a speech at the Foreign Ministry two years ago.

Mearsheimer: US changed Ukraine policy, Russia advances on front