Trump's peace plan stirs tension: Russia eyes new advances
Russia is determined to push the front line as far as possible and approach potential negotiations from a position of strength. Ukrainian media are in turmoil, while Russia is celebrating another leak about Trump’s peace plan.
Reports suggest that Ukraine will forego NATO membership for 20 years. The front line remains frozen as troops hold their positions, and occupied territories temporarily fall under Russian control. The United States plans to continue supplying Ukraine with weapons to deter future Russian aggression, according to the latest unofficial reports about Donald Trump’s peace plan, as described by "The Wall Street Journal."
It's known that one version of the plan was proposed to Trump by his former associates: top national security adviser Gen. Keith Kellogg and Frederick Fleitz, a former National Security Council member and CIA analyst. Although the advisors have presented their ideas, the newspaper emphasizes that Trump will make the final decision. The key issue is how to convince both Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to commence talks.
The President of Ukraine announced that he has already spoken with Trump following the election results: "We agreed to maintain close dialogue and advance our cooperation. Strong and unwavering U.S. leadership is vital for the world and for a just peace," he described their conversation. Putin's spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, stated: "Russia will judge the actions of the US government, and any hypothetical discussions about plans to end the war in Ukraine are inappropriate. Putin remains open to constructive dialogue with the US, but Washington’s attitude is the opposite. Whether it will change will become clear in January."
Early January marks the inauguration of the newly elected president. Military experts in Ukraine note that the next two months present a "window for Russia" to influence the war's outcome on the battlefield.
Ukraine is in turmoil. they hope Biden will still help
Ukrainian media are filled with discussions about possible scenarios to end the war. Unian agency reported that in the final days of President Joe Biden's administration, significant assistance might be provided to Ukraine.
"The United States could supply Ukraine with all the necessary long-range arsenal, allowing us to shoot down Russian Su-34s carrying anti-aircraft missiles and strike Russian territory with ATACMS, JASSM for F-16s, etc. Then, Russia simply wouldn’t be able to implement its plans by February next year," stated Mykhailo Samus, director of the New Geopolitics Research Network platform, to Unian.
These hopes are met with caution. Many analysts believe Ukraine's authorities might be compelled to enter negotiations. Trump’s plan allegedly includes a provision withholding weapon supplies to Ukraine unless Kyiv agrees to peace talks with Russia.
"On November 6, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine summarized the outcomes of the three-month military operation in the Kursk region. Kyiv might soon announce the successful completion of all objectives in this operation. This could serve as a signal for Donald Trump regarding Kyiv’s readiness for potential negotiations," political commentator Oleksandr Kharebin told Ukrainian television.
"It may happen that Ukraine, through the General Staff and the president, acknowledges the completion of the Kursk operation tasks. The results could serve as a bargaining tool in negotiations about establishing specific lines once the war concludes," assessed the Ukrainian expert.
