Categories: World

Kremlin rejects Trump’s peace plan proposals for Ukraine

FILE - Russian President Vladimir Putin appears before the media after the summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organization in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Nov. 28, 2024. (Mikhail Tereshchenko, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP, File)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has flatly dismissed informal proposals from allies of President-elect Donald Trump to resolve the war in Ukraine, delivering a blow to Trump’s promise to freeze the conflict.

Lavrov, speaking to Russian state media outlet TASS, stated that Moscow had “not received any official signals regarding a settlement in Ukraine” and expressed the Kremlin’s resistance to unofficial ideas floated by Trump’s team.

“We are not happy, of course, with the proposals made by members of the Trump team to postpone Ukraine’s admission to NATO for 20 years and to station British and European peacekeeping forces in Ukraine,” Lavrov said, referencing leaked reports about Trump’s proposed plans. Instead, he called for “reliable and legally binding agreements” to address the root causes of the conflict and prevent future violations.

Trump’s Bold Claims on Ending the War

While Trump has yet to unveil any formal proposals, he has repeatedly claimed he could end the war in Ukraine swiftly after taking office. Earlier this month, he acknowledged the complexities of resolving the conflict, describing it as potentially more challenging than achieving peace in the Middle East. Despite this, Trump has pledged to end the war within 24 hours of assuming the presidency.

In a recent interview with Time magazine, Trump declined to reveal details of his plan, stating it would become “a worthless plan” if disclosed prematurely. However, he emphasized that any agreement must ensure Ukraine is not abandoned, amid concerns he could cede eastern Ukrainian territory occupied by Russian forces without adequate security guarantees for Kyiv.

Proposals and Pushback

Trump’s advisers, including retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, have suggested pressuring Ukraine to negotiate by threatening to withhold aid and using the promise of increased military support to bring Russian President Vladimir Putin to the table. Proposed solutions reportedly include delaying Ukraine’s NATO membership and supporting a European peacekeeping force in exchange for security guarantees.

However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has made NATO membership a cornerstone of his strategy, viewing it as essential for Ukraine’s security. Lavrov, meanwhile, reiterated Russia’s stance, stating Moscow “would refuse to accept Ukraine’s NATO membership regardless of the territorial factor.”

As Trump prepares to take office, the chasm between his ambitious rhetoric and the entrenched positions of Moscow and Kyiv suggests that achieving a quick resolution to the conflict will be a significant challenge.

Herbert Bauernebel

Herbert Bauernebel has been reporting from New York since 1999 and currently works for Bild.de, OE24 TV, and US Live. He also runs the news portal AmerikaReport.de. Bauernebel has covered nearly all major US events of the past quarter-century, including 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, Barack Obama’s election, Donald Trump’s surprise victory, the pandemic, last year’s election showdown, as well as natural disasters such as hurricanes and oil spills. He has also reported firsthand on international events, including the Asian tsunami, the Haiti earthquake, and the Fukushima disaster. He lives in Brooklyn with his family and holds degrees in communication and political science from the University of Vienna. Bauernebel is the author of a book about his experiences on 9/11, And the Air Was Full of Ash: 9/11 – The Day That Changed My Life.