**US President–elect Urged to Take Tough Stance on Russia**
Two analysts from Foreign Policy are urging US President-elect Donald Trump to take a strong stance against Russia. They suggest he implement a “maximum pressure” strategy to challenge Russian President Vladimir Putin’s confidence in achieving his goals in Ukraine.
This approach would be crucial in ensuring any future peace talks with Russia are fair and do not result in Ukrainian capitulation. The experts stress the urgency of this approach, especially given the growing expectations for a negotiated end to the war.
**Concerns Over Trump’s Peace Plan**
Trump has promised to quickly end the Russo-Ukrainian war. His team members have suggested that Ukraine may need to make territorial concessions to Russia in exchange for a ceasefire. However, NATO chief Mark Rutte warned earlier that forcing Ukraine into a weak peace agreement with Russia could create a “dire threat” from global adversaries like China, Iran, and North Korea.
**Ukraine’s Military Situation**
The analysts note that Ukraine is facing serious military challenges. The country has manpower and equipment shortages, slow mobilization, and rising casualties. Despite these difficulties, Russian forces continue to advance incrementally, using missile and drone strikes to damage Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and strain the economy amid winter.
**Putin’s Maximalist Demands**
The West’s growing interest in peace negotiations has incentivized Putin to make maximalist demands. Last week, he reiterated his demand that Ukraine cede more territory to Russia, abandon its NATO aspirations, demilitarize, and “denazify,” which the Kremlin views as a justification for replacing Ukraine’s government.
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