Trump 2.0: Trump's promise to end wars in Ukraine and Gaza

On the broader diplomatic front.

Raging wars including that in Ukraine amid Russian invasion look to top the list of foreign policy initiatives for the incoming Trump administration.

Our Choi Min-jung has more.

The incoming U.S. President Donald Trump, was once confident that he could end the three-year-long war between Ukraine and Russia in just 24 hours.

This ambitious claim raised concerns that he might pressure Ukraine to concede territory to achieve a swift resolution.

This comes as Russia currently occupies around a fifth of Ukraine's territory, including Crimea and the areas of Donetsk and Luhansk that were taken before 2022.

However, a subtle shift in Trump's stance has been observed since his election victory.

Earlier this month, he adjusted his timeline, saying he hopes to achieve peace within six months.

While he still emphasizes the need to end the war in Ukraine quickly, he also appears to be taking a cautious approach, stressing the importance of Ukraine's territorial integrity.

However, an expert says negotiations will be difficult under Trump unless Ukraine gives up territory.

"In my view, that's how it will ultimately turn out. Ukraine will have to make many concessions—not just territorial ones. It will likely have to give up territory, agree to neutrality, and abandon its NATO ambitions."

Another war Trump pledged to end is the war in Gaza.

Ahead of his inauguration, Trump warned of serious consequences if the hostages were not returned.

"If those hostages aren't back, I don't want to hurt your negotiations, if they're not back by the time I get into office, all hell will break out in the Middle East and it will not be good for Hamas and it will not be good, frankly, for anyone. All hell will break out."

Trump himself, and some experts believe that his pressure has clearly played out in a productive way, as Israel and Hamas agreed on a three-phase ceasefire and hostage-release deal last week.

He told NBC News at the weekend that the deal "better hold."

What experts are more worried about is the long-term sustainability of the deal.

"It's a three-phased agreement that from 16 days into the first phase, which is going to last for six weeks, is going to already require negotiations to get to the second phase. A lot of the details of the second phase and the release of further hostages and Palestinian prisoners have not been agreed upon. The terms and conditions of Israel's withdrawal from Gaza also remain unclear."

Another expert says that a mechanism is needed to ensure Israel observes and respects the terms of the deal.

"These could include independent monitoring system clearly defined consequences for violations and sustained diplomatic engagement to address lingering issues such as settlement expansion or territorial disputes that could reignite the tension "

With bold promises and high stakes, 2025 will be the ultimate test of whether Trump can turn his words into lasting peace in Ukraine and Gaza.

Choi Min-jung, Arirang News.