A Times investigation reveals the turbulent inner workings of the Trump administration's efforts to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine. Despite campaign promises to end the war swiftly, President Trump encountered complex realities, including internal divisions, secret back channels, and resistance from both allies and adversaries. The administration's approach was marked by withheld military aid to Ukraine, covert operations supporting Ukrainian strikes inside Russia, and personal diplomacy that sometimes veered into the unconventional. Ultimately, Trump's attempts to negotiate with Vladimir Putin faltered, and the alliance between the United States and Ukraine became increasingly strained and unpredictable.