Trump's Ukraine Peace Plan Agenda

A new plan from the White House regarding the end of the war in Ukraine has been disclosed, with terms viewed as unfavorable for Ukraine and Europe. This new plan would require Kyiv to give up territory to Russia, involve US "de facto" acknowledgment of Crimea and other Ukrainian areas taken by the Kremlin as Russian, and set restrictions on the size of Ukraine’s military. A draft of the 28-point plan, which has been reviewed and endorsed by US President Donald Trump, includes many proposals that Ukraine and European officials have previously rejected in negotiations and would be seen as significant concessions to Moscow. US officials maintain that the plan is still under development and that any final agreement would necessitate compromises from both parties. During a briefing on Thursday afternoon, the White House press secretary stated that the plan is still “in flux.” The draft outlines several dramatic changes to longstanding US policy regarding Ukraine’s territorial integrity. It would require the US to recognize Crimea, Luhansk, and Donetsk “as de facto Russian.” For the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, the borders would be fixed along the line of contact, effectively recognizing that line. In return, Russia would give up other territories it currently controls outside these five regions. One particularly controversial aspect calls for Ukrainian forces to pull back from the areas of Donetsk they currently hold. This withdrawal zone would then be designated as a neutral, demilitarized buffer zone, internationally recognized as part of the Russian Federation.

Both countries would agree not to alter the established territorial arrangements by force. The plan also includes a pledge that Ukraine will not join NATO, that NATO will not deploy troops in Ukraine, and that European fighter jets will be stationed in Poland. It restricts the size of the Ukrainian armed forces to 600,000 personnel and mandates Ukrainian elections within 100 days. The plan's implementation will be overseen by the Peace Council, led by President Donald J. Trump, with penalties for any breaches. Although security guarantees for Ukraine are mentioned, they lack specifics in the draft, which indicates that the US will be compensated for its guarantee. The proposal outlines consequences for both parties: if Russia invades Ukraine again, global sanctions will be reinstated, and any recognition of new territories will be canceled. On the other hand, if Ukraine attacks Moscow or St. Petersburg without provocation, the security guarantee will be voided. The draft also discusses Russia's reintegration into the global community, including lifting sanctions and inviting it back into the G8. It proposes that all parties involved in the conflict receive full amnesty for their wartime actions and agree not to pursue future claims, which contradicts the International Criminal Court's warrant for President Putin concerning the forced deportation of Ukrainian children.

Additionally, the plan calls for the return of all civilian detainees, hostages, children, and the exchange of all prisoners of war and remains. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his willingness to collaborate with the administration on the plan after meeting with a senior US military official in Kyiv,stating he was ready for “constructive, honest and swift work.” However, European and Ukrainian officials have criticized the plan, suggesting it seems to echo many of Moscow's earlier demands from the war. Photo Credit: President Trump's Instagram page