Trump, who was elected president on November 5, has repeatedly stated that he will end the war in “24 hours” as well as get the U.S. out of Ukraine.
Earlier media reports, and statements from Trump’s inner circle, indicated that this would entail a freezing of the war on the front lines currently in place and creating a zone demilitarized in the east. This claim was also backed up by the WSJ’s sources.
Russia occupies approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory, mostly in the south and east. It continues to push back Ukrainian defenders despite heavy losses.
Uncertainty remains about who will police the 800-mile (1300-kilometer) demilitarized area, but a Trump aide, who asked to remain anonymous, told the WSJ Washington would require European allies send in their soldiers.
Sources said that this proposal was only one of many ideas being discussed in Trump’s team. The president-elect also has a tendency to take major policy decisions immediately.
Two of Trump’s advisers, retired general Keith Kellogg, and Fred Fleitz proposed in June that Ukraine cease military assistance unless it agreed to hold peace talks with Russia.
Kellogg also said that the plan would include additional warnings to Russia, stating that the U.S. will increase its military support for Ukraine if they refuse the terms of the ceasefire.
Fleitz said Trump responded positively to the plan, but added: “I’m certainly not claiming that he agreed or agreed with each and every word.” The plan also included taking Ukraine’s NATO membership off the table “for an extended period of time in exchange for a comprehensive peace deal with security assurances.”
Ukraine has submitted a request to join NATO in 2022, but has not been invited. The U.S. president Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz have both given a cold reply.
Both Kyiv, and Moscow, said that it was not possible to end the conflict in 24 hours as Trump claims. Ukraine has refused to recognize Russian occupation of its territory, but has acknowledged that some areas may need to be liberated through diplomatic means.
Russia, on the other hand, currently has the upper-hand in the battlefield. Its troops are outnumbered and outgunned by Ukrainian forces, so it is unlikely that they will seek a settlement.
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