Peace on the condition of pressure on Putin and without Ukraine’s membership in NATO: FT unveils Trump’s plan
The former US President Donald Trump together with the candidate for the post of vice president JD Vance presented the plan for ending the war in Ukraine, which involves a frozen conflict with the demilitarized autonomous regions and the exclusion of Ukraine from the list of candidates for joining NATO. About this informs Financial Times.
Trump’s plan involves renewing the settlement approach, similar to the Minsk agreements of 2014 and 2015, which failed to stop the conflict in eastern Ukraine. According to one of Trump’s advisers, the new agreement will contain specific monitoring and enforcement mechanisms that will be overseen by European troops, not NATO or UN forces. Trump and his allies emphasize that, given the current situation, the settlement is a morally justified step.
Fred Fleitz, a former representative of the first Trump administration, said that it is proposed to temporarily exclude the question of Ukraine’s membership in NATO in order to convince Russia to sit down at the negotiating table. According to Fleitz, the conflict can remain frozen until Vladimir Putin leaves the political scene, preserving Ukraine’s territorial claims without further escalation.
Congressman Mike Waltz, a national security expert, suggested that Trump use economic pressure to negotiate with Russia, including lower oil and gas prices, which could seriously hit the Russian economy. Waltz emphasized that Trump views expanding US oil and gas exports as a primary means of putting pressure on Putin. However, Saudi Arabia, a key US partner, may not support the move.
Those close to Trump cite his achievements in Middle East peace deals, citing as an example the Abraham Accords struck between Israel and several Arab states during Trump’s first term as president. American diplomat Richard Grenell noted that Trump has experience in negotiations, and this approach can be effective in resolving the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
The US presidential election will be held on November 5, and the main contenders are Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris. In the latest polls, Trump has a slight lead over Harris, and in seven key states the two candidates are showing almost equal levels of support, making for a tense race.
