Donald Trump has billed himself as a “peacemaker,” boasting that he has stopped a number of potential disputes. He has a solid achievement in the Middle East, but it is still a work in progress.

The toughest of his initiatives regards the war between Ukraine and Russia. It has been a rocky road, made even more difficult by the machinations of the “deep state.”

Those who helped to design policy during both the Biden and the first Trump administration are bound and determined to thwart a new course on Ukraine. Trump clearly wants to end the war, and in his view, the best way to do it is to concede some points to Vladimir Putin. But some of those who once served in the Central Intelligence Agency and State Department seemed determined to wed Trump to the policies of the past.

Presidents are not obligated to follow failed policies. The present attempt to give Vladimir Zelensky a blank check to shape American actions is agenda-driven. Most of these advocate NATO membership for Ukraine, even though they acknowledge the danger. Within Trump’s own State Department, Secretary Marco Rubio advocates for Kyiv and is backed up by Senators, many from the South.

But Ukraine’s defenders were jolted by a major scandal. Andriy Yermak, Zelensky’s Chief of Staff and the former producer of his popular Television show, resigned because of corruption. This disrupts the narrative of the virtuous Zelensky, after a raid on Yermak’s home exposed a great many dubious deeds. Yermak was so corrupt that his code name was Ali Baba of the Forty Thieves fame.

Naturally, Zelensky’s apology in the United States lauded him for cracking down on his subordinates. They conveniently forgot that he tried to remove the corruption office last summer and that Yermak was his chief negotiator with Russia.

The Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal tried to turn Zelensky’s scandal into a virtue. They have both also tried to undermine Trump’s efforts to secure peace. The 28-point program was leaked, as usual, and Trump’s Democratic opponents have lined up with Kyiv. They placed the President and his Chief Negotiator, Steve Witcoff, in a difficult position. They have become advocates for Ukraine, even if this undermines the United States’ position.

Trump finds himself in the position Richard Nixon found himself in during the negotiations to end the War in Vietnam. Witcoff is a realist who sees war as a poor option and is in the role of Henry Kissinger. Keith Kellogg played the role of the “forever” hawk who tried to change the subject and block a settlement. The rest belong to the “forever war” crowd led by Lindsey Graham and his legion of Southerners of whatever political persuasion. This crowd loves conflict, and for as long as it takes. Trump, despite his flaws, is trying to end the war, and his opponents are trying to prolong the struggle.