Former National Security Adviser John Bolton is raising red flags about President Donald Trump's approach to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, suggesting that Trump's desire to broker a high-profile peace deal could derail efforts to tighten sanctions against Vladimir Putin's war machine.

Dealmaking Over Support

Bolton didn't mince words in a Wednesday post on X, where he shared thoughts from a Times Radio interview. "Trump's objective is not to help Ukraine, but to make any deal he can, and claim a Nobel Peace Prize," he wrote. The implication? New sanctions against Russia are "highly unlikely" because they might complicate Trump's dealmaking ambitions.

During the radio interview, Bolton drew a historical parallel, noting that Trump's goal resembles Theodore Roosevelt's 1905 Nobel Peace Prize for ending the Russo-Japanese war. "His objective is to make a deal so that like Theodore Roosevelt who got the Nobel Peace Prize for bringing the end of the Russo-Japanese war back in 1905...that's what he wants," Bolton explained.

Sanctions Bill in Limbo

Bolton specifically pointed to stalled legislation sponsored by Sen. Lindsey Graham. The sanctions package, introduced in April, would impose severe penalties including up to 500% tariffs on countries and individuals importing Russian energy. The idea is to choke off funding for Russia's military operations in Ukraine.

Despite bipartisan backing, the bill remains stuck in Congress, waiting for the White House to signal its position. Bolton's assessment is blunt: "He won't want to take steps against Russia that may prevent the deal from happening because his objective is not to help Ukraine."

Ukraine Pushes Back

Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected Russian claims that Ukraine can't defend itself, pointing to recent battlefield gains and successful deep strikes as evidence of the country's strength. He's argued that international pressure should focus on Russia, not Ukraine.

Deal First, Meetings Later

Trump has made clear he won't meet with Zelenskyy or Putin until a peace deal is finalized or nearly done. Zelenskyy acknowledged his team has worked on the U.S.-drafted proposal and emphasized that future progress depends heavily on American leadership.

The Trump administration's push for a rapid settlement has placed Ukraine under significant pressure. Last week, Washington presented Kyiv with a framework that includes several of Moscow's demands, warning that intelligence and weapons support could be reduced if Ukraine refuses to sign. Senior U.S. officials have urged Kyiv to follow what they described as an "aggressive timeline" for reaching an agreement.