White House has no idea how to force Putin to accept Donald Trump's peace plan

The US government is at a loss as to how to persuade Russia to accept President Donald Trump's peace plan. Although the United States has said that the Ukraine resources deal would be an important step toward a peaceful resolution of the conflict, the US administration has no consensus on what to do next with Russia, Politico reports, citing its sources.

A US Treasury official told the publication that the mineral deal demonstrates US economic interest in Ukraine's future and should show Russia that the US is "committed to Ukraine's long-term success". However, it is "unlikely the deal will soften Vladimir Putin's resistance" against Trump's peace plan, "and the White House still doesn't know how to change that".

"Increasing sanctions would be the next tightening of the screws if the president wants to go down that path," the source said.

Earlier, the State Department said the United States would no longer play the role of mediator in the negotiations between Ukraine and Russia and that it was time for direct dialogue between the parties.