Lebanon reports Israeli strikes after truce announcement

Donald Trump once boasted he could end wars and broker peace. Now, as ceasefires crumble across multiple conflict zones and fighting grinds on, critics are pointing to a stark record of missed promises and mounting turmoil.

The US president claimed he could strike deals where others had failed. But in Ukraine, Iran and the wider Middle East, the conflicts he vowed to resolve continue to burn. Instead of peace breakthroughs, the world has seen collapsing truces, rising casualties and deepening instability.

The contrast with past generations of peacemakers could hardly be sharper. Figures such as Kofi Annan, Martti Ahtisaari and George Mitchell built reputations by navigating some of the world's most difficult disputes. Their efforts helped produce lasting agreements in places where conflict once seemed impossible to solve.

Today, ceasefires are falling apart with alarming regularity. Lebanon's latest attempt collapsed this week. Violations are reported daily in the Iran conflict. Sudan remains trapped in civil war without any ceasefire at all.

Trump's critics argue that his diplomatic approach has repeatedly failed to match the complexity of the crises he has confronted. His promise to end the Ukraine war in a single day now looks increasingly distant as the conflict enters its fifth year.

The president openly sided with Russia, publicly told Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy that he had "no cards" and cut weapons supplies. Yet despite those moves, the war continues and hopes of a breakthrough remain elusive.

Trump's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, have also come under fire. Critics claim Russian officials outmanoeuvred them during negotiations in Moscow. Neither has visited Kyiv, a fact highlighted by opponents as evidence of a flawed strategy.

Now Zelenskyy is proposing a ceasefire of his own. But doubts remain over whether Russian president Vladimir Putin will accept such an offer.

The picture is similarly bleak in Iran. After launching an attack on the country in February, Trump declared a ceasefire in April despite key objectives remaining unmet and the Strait of Hormuz still largely closed to shipping. Violations continue to occur daily. Indirect talks have struggled to gain traction. Meanwhile, the wider economic consequences are being felt far beyond the region.

The conflict has also become a political headache at home. Trump now faces resistance from Congress as well as growing frustration among members of the public.

In Gaza, the president's celebrated truce agreement from last October has also lost much of its shine. While hostages were freed, his wider 20-point plan centred on disarming Hamas quickly ran into difficulties. Plans for reconstruction and the proposed "Board of Peace" have struggled to gain credibility. Meanwhile, Palestinian suffering continues and Israeli military occupation has expanded.

Tensions have also emerged between Trump and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The pair reportedly had a furious row last week as wider regional disputes intensified.

Behind these setbacks lies a broader global problem. Ceasefires in Yemen, Myanmar and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have repeatedly failed to deliver lasting peace. Sudan remains mired in war after more than three years of bloodshed.

Experts point to a toxic mix of mistrust, inflexibility and competing visions of victory. Without trust between enemies, even the most carefully crafted agreements can quickly unravel.

The weakening of international institutions has only added to the challenge. Traditional peace processes led by empowered UN envoys have become increasingly rare. High-profile diplomatic efforts once carried out by US secretaries of state have largely faded from view. Critics also argue that modern politics increasingly prizes force, speed and headlines over patience, compromise and long-term solutions.

Yet amid the political wrangling, the human cost continues to mount. Since the Iran war began, at least 3,468 people have reportedly been killed, 26,500 injured and millions displaced.

Attention has also focused on the Minab primary school bombing on 28 February, in which US forces allegedly killed more than 100 children. If fighting escalates again, fears are growing that more atrocities could follow.

Across Lebanon, civilian casualties continue to rise. Unicef reported that 77 children were killed or injured during the last week of May alone. Those figures serve as a grim reminder of what is at stake. Behind every failed ceasefire and every collapsed negotiation are ordinary people paying the price.

Supporters of diplomacy argue that military force alone cannot end these conflicts. They insist that professional negotiation, sustained engagement and skilled diplomacy remain the most reliable path to lasting peace.

Trump’s failure to maintain ceasefires is part of the new world disorder – and ordinary people pay the price

Just give it a couple of weeks and they will be drinking bleach eating the dogs and forgetting all about Epstein files ..Only in America.