A former national security advisor to Donald Trump has rejected the Republican presidential candidate’s claims that he can broker a peace deal between Kyiv and Moscow and end the war in Ukraine. Speaking on CBS’s Face the Nation on Sept. 29, HR McMaster dismissed Trump’s claims as “a real myth” and stated that it is a misunderstanding of war to assume that a favorable political outcome can be achieved without a favorable military outcome. He added that this has never happened in war.
Trump has promised to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine within a day if elected, but has not provided details on how he plans to do so. One plan reportedly involves ceding territory to Russia. Even the Kremlin has expressed doubt about Trump’s claims, stating on July 18 that it is important to be realistic.
McMaster also expressed skepticism, stating that the only way for Ukraine to achieve a favorable settlement is to ensure that Russian President Vladimir Putin is convinced he is losing the war. He suggested that this can be done by demonstrating resolve to support Ukraine in defending itself against Russian aggression.
In July, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Trump to reveal his plan so that Ukraine can be prepared for any potential risks. Zelensky stated in an interview with Bloomberg Television that if there are risks to Ukrainian independence, they want to be ready for them and understand whether they will have the support of the U.S. in November.
Trump and Zelensky met in the U.S. last week, where Trump stated that he had “learned a lot” about the war in Ukraine, but his views on ending it “as soon as possible” have not changed. However, Trump’s recent rhetoric towards Zelensky and U.S. support for Ukraine has become increasingly critical. He has accused Zelensky of wanting Democrats to win the upcoming presidential election and has referred to him as “the greatest salesman on earth.” Trump also criticized Zelensky for refusing to “make a deal” with Russia and accused him of making negative comments about him.
However, in an interview with The Washington Post published on Sept. 30, Trump stated that he “likes” Zelensky and had a good relationship with him while he was in office.
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