Trump advisors engage in talks on ending Ukraine conflict
Advisors to Donald Trump have engaged in talks with the White House and Ukrainian representatives recently, discussing ways to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, NBC News reports. Despite various public suggestions, no concrete plan has emerged thus far.
Recently, Donald Trump's team of advisors has been in discussions with the White House administration and Ukrainian representatives about ending the Ukrainian conflict. However, these conversations have not yet produced specific results or a detailed plan.
Those involved in discussions about ways to end the war in Ukraine reportedly included National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan with his successor Mike Waltz, and Andriy Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian president's office, with Keith Kellogg, who was appointed by Donald Trump as a special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Vice President-elect JD Vance, known for his criticism of aid to Ukraine as a senator, was reportedly part of this last meeting.
Like Vance, Kellogg supports a ceasefire along the current front line and excluding Ukraine's membership in NATO for at least the next decade.
- The atmosphere thus far in terms of the engagement between the Ukrainians and the incoming Trump team, including Zelenskyy and Trump himself, has been positive, said one NBC source.
Trump doesn't want to provide security guarantees
According to NBC information, Trump's team, in discussions with European officials, has emphasized that they do not wish to offer Ukraine security guarantees within NATO. They suggest that such guarantees should primarily come from European countries, potentially by sending their forces to Ukraine. However, it remains unclear what role these forces would play and which countries might participate in such a mission. Additional arming of Ukraine is also being considered.
Representatives of the Biden administration, who had considered inviting Ukraine to NATO before the elections but abandoned these plans after Trump's victory, believe that excluding NATO membership would be a significant mistake and a "great achievement" for Putin.
Trump's team's proposals for ending the war emphasize maintaining the current status quo, which involves leaving substantial parts of Ukraine under Russian control and excluding it from NATO membership. This perspective raises concerns and hopes for stabilization, though a lack of political consensus may hinder reaching an agreement for some time.
Trump's stance faces criticism from both experts and Ukrainians. The lack of decisive support for Ukraine and the reluctance to involve European allies regarding security guarantees could lead to prolonged uncertainty and conflict.
One of the key topics in the discussions is Ukraine's potential NATO membership. In talks with European representatives, Trump's team ruled out Ukraine joining the Alliance in the near future. This stance raises concerns about the region's future security.
