Trump's bold plan: Freeze Ukraine conflict with Euro support
Advisors in President-elect Donald Trump's circle are advocating for a plan to "freeze" the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, as reported by Newsweek. This plan includes establishing a demilitarized zone over 750 miles long, to be monitored by European forces, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Newsweek also highlighted Trump's past promises. He repeatedly claimed he could end the conflict in Ukraine in a single day, though he did not explain how he would accomplish this.
In early November, the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump's team proposes allowing the Russian occupation of 20% of Ukraine's territory, establishing a demilitarized zone over 750 miles long, and enforcing a 20-year moratorium on Ukraine's efforts to join NATO.
This information was confirmed by Czech President Petr Pavel, who stated on November 9th that Europe would take responsibility for securing the eastern flank and this demilitarized zone.
"We are not sending American men and women to uphold peace in Ukraine. And we are not paying for it. Get the Poles, Germans, British, and French to do it," said an anonymous member of Trump's team, as quoted by the Wall Street Journal. "We can do training and other support but the barrel of the gun is going to be European," they added.
Newsweek also quoted Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, who stated that a "peaceful settlement" means the current line separating Russia and Ukraine will become something like a demilitarized zone.
"Kyiv is unlikely to agree"
American strategist and former advisor to Ukraine's commander-in-chief, Dan Rice, emphasized in an interview with the weekly that "Kyiv was very unlikely to accept a short-term ceasefire, but that significant European forces along the Russian border with Ukraine were needed to stop Russia attempting to seize territory."
Meanwhile, analyst Karolina Hird from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) told Newsweek that the demilitarized zone would be on Putin's terms, and he will "simply use that as the front line for the next invasion of Ukraine in five, 10, 15 years, after his army has rested and reconstituted and institutionalized the lessons it is learning in Ukraine."
According to Hird, the zone would "almost legitimize the occupation" of parts of Ukraine, further strengthening the Kremlin's control over Ukrainians in those areas. The demilitarized zone would not end the war on anyone's terms other than Russia's, stressed the ISW expert.
