Trump’s plan that If he elected as the US President on November 5, Donald Trump pledged to bring an end to the Russia-Ukraine war as soon as possible. Two of his top advisers, Retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg and Fred Fleitz. Have outlined possible plans that will drag Ukraine and Russia to the negotiating table through threats and promises.
The Proposed Plan
A draft by Kellogg and Fleitz, chiefs of staff for Trump’s National Security Council in the past term. Would have further U.S. military support for Ukraine conditioned on its willingness to enter into peace talks. While at the same time threatening an increase of U.S. aid to Ukraine if Moscow refused to negotiate.
In an interview with Reuters, Kellogg said he had outlined the approach to Trump and received a warm reception. The plan envisions an immediate ceasefire founded on current battle lines as needed for any peace negotiations to take off. The Ukrainians are told, “You must come to the table. If you don’t, US support will cease.” To Putin, it’s stated, “You must come to the table. If you don’t, we will provide the Ukrainians with everything they need to defeat you militarily.”
Kremlin Reacts to Trump’s Peace Plan
The Kremlin has showed cautious interest in such a proposal. According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, he is willing to consider negotiations. Provided that any peace plan will have to be based on the real existent situation. At a meeting with foreign editors on June 5, Putin did not write off the possibility of a change in U.S. policy after the elections.
A research paper supporting these views would be released by the America First Policy. Institute – a think tank aligned with Trump, led by Kellogg and Fleitz. The plan says that there is an urgency to bring both parties on the negotiation table. Potentially shifting the U.S. position in this war pretty significantly.
The party with the intention of “arming Ukraine to the teeth” has the best chance of having a good negotiating position, and swift action is required now. The United States has already given billions of dollars’ worth of military equipment and hardware to Ukraine—which includes ATACMS, providing a 300-kilometer range for the Army Tactical Missile System. Just recently, Ukraine used this same weapon in an attack against Crimea. Russia responded by laying the blame on the U.S. for raising the stakes of the conflict.
NATO Membership and Security Guarantees
One of the substantive elements that might be part of the contemplated plan is the postponement of Ukraine’s accession to NATO, which would be an inducement for the Russians to negotiate. This will imply a huge departure from the current policy of the United States and definitely oppose the allies of Europe along with Ukraine itself.
He explained that Ukraine does not need to cede any land to Russia officially in this plan. Simultaneously, Fleitz did concede that, at least in the short to medium-term future, there is a fat chance that Ukraine would get its full territory back. Instead, this plan is focused on finding a long-term and sustainable peace with additional security guarantees for Ukraine.
Reactions and Challenges
The Biden administration was, from the outset of Russia’s re-invasion, one of the firm supporters of Ukraine. It had doled out more than $70 billion towards military aid in the period. President Joe Biden spoke for Ukraine’s long-term prospects of joining NATO, reiterated by the recent 10-year bilateral security agreement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
But most significantly, Trump’s proposed plan would be a strong deviation from this approach if carried out. It predictably will face not just opposition from the Biden administration but the European allies who so far have held out quite firmly in terms of defending Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
