An idea from the team of the American president-elect to end the war in Russia involves delaying Ukraine’s NATO membership by at least 20 years in exchange for continuing to supply arms to Kiev, say three sources close to Trump.
Trump, who won the presidential vote on November 5, has repeatedly stated that he will end the war in „24 hours” and will get the U.S. „out” of Ukraine. An idea that Kiev has consistently contested, but which seems to take shape after the victory of the Republican candidate in the elections.
Previous press reports and statements from those close to Trump have indicated that Trump's plan to end the war would involve freezing the conflict along the current front line and creating a demilitarized zone in the east, a claim also supported by sources cited by The Wall Street Journal.
Currently, Russia occupies about 20% of Ukrainian territory in the south and east and continues to exert constant pressure on the defense lines of the Ukrainian forces, albeit at the cost of heavy losses.
It remains unclear who will oversee the 1,300-kilometer demilitarized zone, but an unnamed advisor to Trump told the American newspaper that Washington will ask European allies to send peacekeeping troops there.
This is just one of the options that Trump's team is considering, but it should be noted that the president-elect tends to make major political decisions on the spot, sources said.
Two of Trump's advisors, retired General Keith Kellogg and Fred Fleitz, proposed in June to cease military aid to Ukraine if Kiev does not agree to peace negotiations with Russia.
Kellogg also said that the plan would include additional warnings to Russia that the U.S. will increase its military support for Ukraine if Moscow refuses the ceasefire conditions.
Fleitz said that Trump reacted positively to the plan, but added: "I'm not claiming that he agreed with it or agreed with every word of it."
The plan would also involve postponing Ukraine's NATO membership for "an extended period in exchange for a comprehensive and verifiable peace agreement, with security guarantees."
Ukraine applied for NATO membership in 2022 but did not receive an invitation, receiving a cold response from American President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and other Western leaders.
Both Kiev and Moscow have stated that it will not be possible for the war to end in 24 hours, as Trump claims.
The Washington Post wrote in April, citing sources from Trump's team, that the Republican could end the war in Ukraine by pressuring Kiev to give up Crimea and the eastern province of Donbas, which includes Donetsk and Lugansk.
Ukraine's position remains steadfast, emphasizing repeatedly that it does not recognize Russia's occupation of its territories, but admitting that some of these areas should be liberated through diplomatic means.
On the other hand, Moscow currently holds the initiative on the battlefield, outnumbering Ukrainian forces, so it has no concrete incentives to seek a peace agreement.
T.D.