Trump to Return to United Nations as Gaza, Ukraine Conflicts Rage/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump’s recent efforts to broker peace in Ukraine and Gaza have failed to ease growing global tensions. A recent summit with Vladimir Putin and U.S. support for Israel’s military action have yielded no breakthroughs. With rising violence and diplomatic confusion, critics question the effectiveness of Trump’s foreign policy approach. World leaders gather in New York this coming week for a U.N. General Assembly dominated by Donald Trump‘s return to the rostrum, war in Gaza and Ukraine, rising Western recognition of Palestinian statehood and nuclear tensions with Iran.
Trump’s Peace Efforts Falter + Quick Looks
- Trump’s Alaska summit with Putin yielded no progress on Ukraine.
- Israel expands military action, striking Hamas officials in Qatar.
- Arab nations express concern over U.S. support for Israel.
- Trump faces rising skepticism about his leadership on global conflicts.
- Russia escalates tension with airspace violations over NATO nations.
- U.S.-Arab relations strain amid Israeli strikes using U.S.-supplied weapons.
- Critics say Trump lacks experienced diplomats and strategy coordination.
- Trump’s Nobel Peace Prize aspirations conflict with ongoing warfare.
- Middle East and Europe increasingly unstable despite Trump’s visits.
Deep Look: Trump’s Global Peace Agenda Crumbles as Ukraine and Gaza Conflicts Intensify
President Donald Trump’s vision of himself as a global peacemaker is under intense scrutiny, as violence in Ukraine and the Middle East continues to escalate. Less than a month after his high-profile summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, the conflict in Ukraine shows no sign of slowing. Meanwhile, in the Middle East, Israel has launched a renewed offensive in Gaza, striking even within the borders of U.S. ally Qatar, and further complicating Trump’s peace efforts.
Headlining this year’s 80th General Assembly will be Trump, who calls for slashing U.S. funding for the U.N., stopped U.S. engagement with the U.N. Human Rights Council, extended a halt to funding for the Palestinian relief agency UNRWA and quit the U.N. cultural agency UNESCO. He has also announced plans to quit the Paris climate deal and the World Health Organization.
Trump will speak on Tuesday, eight months into a second term marked by severe U.S. foreign aid cuts that have sparked global humanitarian chaos and raised questions about the U.N.’s future, prompting U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to try to cut costs and improve efficiency.
“He enjoys the General Assembly. He enjoys the attention of other leaders,” International Crisis Group U.N. director Richard Gowan said of Trump. “My suspicion is he is going to be using his appearance to boast about his many achievements and perhaps once again, make the case he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize.”
Trump describes the U.N. as having “great potential” but says it has to get its “act together.” He has maintained the same wary stance on multilateralism that was a hallmark of his first term from 2017 to 2021 and also accused the world body of failing to help him try to broker peace in various conflicts.
“The U.N. has very strong efforts in peace mediation … but we have no carrots and no sticks,” Guterres said. The U.N. Security Council is the only U.N. body that can impose sanctions, but it has been deadlocked on the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine because the U.S. and Russia are veto powers.
“The United States has carrots and sticks. So in some situations, if you are able to combine the two, I think we can have a very effective way to make sure that some peace process at least can lead to a successful result,” Guterres said.
He and Trump are expected to meet formally for the first time since Trump returned to office in January – one of more than 150 bilateral meetings the U.N. chief said he has scheduled, dubbing the week “the World Cup of diplomacy.”
A Failing Gamble in Ukraine
Trump, visibly frustrated, expressed disappointment over the lack of cooperation from Putin, stating, “He’s let me down.” The remarks signal a stark departure from Trump’s usual confidence on the international stage and highlight a growing disconnect between his stated diplomatic goals and the reality on the ground.
The Alaska summit, aimed at easing tensions and setting the stage for a negotiated peace in Ukraine, was met with skepticism from foreign policy experts, many of whom criticized Trump’s lack of preparation and reliance on personal rapport rather than formal strategy. Despite the summit, Russia has not slowed its aggression, and recent airspace violations over NATO members like Estonia and Poland have heightened fears of a broader war.
Middle East Flashpoint: Gaza and Beyond
The situation is equally volatile in the Middle East, where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has intensified military operations in Gaza City and conducted airstrikes targeting Hamas operatives in Qatar. That strike — in a country long viewed as a key diplomatic partner — stunned Arab leaders and raised questions about Trump’s control over Israeli actions, especially given that the attack used U.S.-supplied weapons.
Trump attempted to strike a cautionary tone, warning that “they have to be very, very careful.” However, his statements did little to restore confidence among Arab leaders, some of whom now see Israel as a greater threat than Iran, according to diplomats present at the Gulf Cooperation Council summit in Doha.
This marks a sharp departure from the diplomatic progress Trump once claimed credit for through the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab states during his first term. That progress now appears to be unraveling.
Critics Say Diplomacy Lacks Direction
Former State Department official Max Bergmann, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, described Trump’s diplomacy over the last nine months as a “merry-go-round.” He criticized Trump’s emphasis on bold, symbolic gestures rather than sustained policy work and coordination.
“Reaching peace agreements is very hard,” Bergmann said. “And it’s even harder when you don’t have a diplomatic team that knows what they’re doing.”
Indeed, the Trump administration has dramatically downsized the National Security Council, and Marco Rubio now serves dual roles as Secretary of State and National Security Adviser, centralizing foreign policy decisions in a way that has drawn criticism from both Democrats and Republicans.
“Foreign policy is not a solo act,” said Matt Kroenig, a Pentagon adviser during Trump’s first term. “It requires inter-agency coordination, long-term planning, and consistent messaging—none of which are currently visible.”
NATO on Edge as Russia Pushes Boundaries
Compounding the administration’s troubles, Russian fighter jets entered Estonian airspace late last week, marking a significant escalation. While no immediate conflict ensued, the incursion rattled NATO allies and prompted Trump to warn that it could signal “big trouble.”
Although Trump insists that his diplomatic efforts “accomplished a lot,” critics remain unconvinced. His seemingly equivocal stance on Ukraine — sometimes suggesting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shares blame for the conflict — has only added to the confusion.
“You know, those are two people — Zelenskyy and Putin — that hate each other,” Trump said during a press conference in the United Kingdom. “It takes two to tango.”
Such remarks undermine U.S. efforts to present a unified front in support of Ukraine, particularly when Russian aggression now threatens NATO airspace.
Pressure Mounts Ahead of U.N. General Assembly
With the United Nations General Assembly set to convene next week, Trump and his envoy, Steve Witkoff, are expected to face significant criticism — particularly from Arab nations frustrated by the perceived erosion of U.S. neutrality in the region.
Sources close to the matter say that Arab leaders may demand reassessment of U.S. military aid to Israel, especially after Israel’s unprovoked strike inside Qatar. However, such proposals face an uphill battle in the Republican-controlled Congress, where support for Israel remains unwavering.
Even Trump’s own allies are questioning the administration’s ability to manage simultaneous global crises. “At what point does he say, ‘This is too hard, let’s move on to other issues?’” asked Kroenig.
War and Famine Dominate UN Gathering as Gaza Crisis Deepens
World leaders are convening in New York this week as the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip nears its second year, and the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave worsens. A global hunger monitor has issued a dire warning that famine has already taken hold in Gaza and is expected to spread rapidly by the end of the month unless immediate action is taken.
Netanyahu to Speak Amid ICC War Crimes Charges
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity—allegations Israel has strongly denied—is scheduled to address the United Nations General Assembly on Friday. His speech comes just days after Israel launched a new ground assault on Gaza City, a move it had long signaled.
Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon emphasized that Israel will continue to press its case before the international community. “We will remind the world once again that this war will not end with the hostages left behind in Gaza,” Danon said.
France and Saudi Arabia Host Peace Summit Ahead of Assembly
Before official speeches at the General Assembly begin on Tuesday, world leaders will attend a high-stakes summit on Monday hosted by France and Saudi Arabia. The meeting aims to build momentum toward a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians, a goal that has long eluded negotiators.
Countries including Australia, Belgium, Britain, Canada, and France have pledged to formally recognize a Palestinian state, though several have set preconditions for doing so. The diplomatic efforts reflect a growing push among Western nations to recalibrate their stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict amid the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe.
U.S. Blocks Abbas From Attending in Person
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will not attend the summit in person after the United States denied him a visa, prompting widespread criticism at the United Nations. In response, the General Assembly voted on Friday to allow him to deliver his remarks via video.
“Palestine is going to be the huge elephant in this session of the General Assembly,” said Palestinian U.N. envoy Riyad Mansour, reflecting the central role the issue is expected to play in the week’s diplomatic discourse.
Ukraine War Remains a Key But Stagnant Issue
While Gaza dominates much of the attention, Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine—now entering its fourth year—remains a top issue on the General Assembly’s agenda. However, diplomats expect little progress to be made during the session.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov are both expected to deliver addresses to the Assembly, continuing their long-standing war of words on the global stage. As in years past, Russian President Vladimir Putin is not expected to attend the U.N. meeting in person.
UN Security Council to Meet on Gaza and Ukraine
The 15-member U.N. Security Council, tasked with maintaining international peace and security, is expected to hold dedicated meetings on both Gaza and Ukraine during the high-level session. While any meaningful action is likely to be blocked by the Council’s internal divisions—particularly between Western nations and Russia or China—the meetings underscore the urgency of both conflicts.
Iran Nuclear Tensions Add to Diplomatic Pressure
On the sidelines of the General Assembly, diplomats are preparing for last-minute talks on Iran’s nuclear program, as the country faces the possible return of full U.N. Security Council sanctions on September 28. The Islamic Republic is under pressure to avoid triggering a broader international standoff.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi are both expected to attend the U.N. session, where they will likely engage in a final round of negotiations and back-channel diplomacy to avert further isolation.
War and the Weight of Peace
Trump continues to project confidence, stating that his goal for the U.N. summit is “world peace.” But the international response suggests that the world sees increasing instability, not peace, under his leadership.
“You never know in war,” Trump said philosophically in London. “Things happen that are very opposite of what you thought.”
With conflicts deepening in Ukraine and Gaza, Trump’s foreign policy legacy — and his future as a self-proclaimed peacemaker — hangs in the balance.
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