Abandoning Ukraine’s plans to join NATO for 20 years in exchange for arms supplies, creating a demilitarised zone and freezing the war: Trump’s possible plan
Advisers to US President-elect Donald Trump are proposing to ‘freeze’ the conflict on the frontline by leaving the occupied territories to Russia, creating a demilitarised zone and temporarily suspending Ukraine’s integration into NATO for 20 years.
The Wall Street Journal reports this, citing sources from Trump’s inner circle.
Among the options proposed by the advisers are a decisive departure from the ‘support to victory’ policy and the assumption that peace talks will begin when Kyiv decides to do so. Trump has not yet approved a specific plan, but according to sources, he wants the war to end quickly, even if it requires significant concessions from Ukraine.
The advisers propose to ‘freeze’ the conflict, leaving Russia with about 20% of Ukrainian territory, and to temporarily halt Ukraine’s attempts to join NATO. One of the options proposed is that Kyiv would refuse to join NATO for 20 years, in return for which the US would continue to provide military support.
Another aspect is the creation of an 800-mile (1,287 km) wide demilitarised zone between Ukrainian and Russian troops. The question of controlling this zone is still open, but a peacekeeping force, without the participation of the US or US-funded entities, including the UN, is being considered.
The Wall Street Journal also reports that the idea of a demilitarised zone was previously supported by Trump’s Vice President J.D. Vance.
The plan envisages that European countries will be primarily responsible for military supplies to Ukraine. A member of Trump’s team said: ‘Training and other support may come from us, but the weapons will be European. We will not send American troops to keep peace in Ukraine, and we will not pay for it. The Poles, the Germans, the British and the French should do it.’
