The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that President-elect Donald Trump’s team has drafted a plan aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, with significant conditions attached. Allegedly, the proposal includes Ukraine delaying its NATO membership aspirations for at least 20 years, freezing the current front lines, and establishing a demilitarized zone between Russian-held territories and Ukraine.
The plan reportedly excludes U.S. or UN troops as monitors, instead suggesting that European allies of Kyiv—such as Poland, Germany, the UK, and France—should be responsible for overseeing any ceasefire.
According to a WSJ source within Trump’s team, the U.S. would still provide Ukraine with military training and support, including weapons, to help deter further Russian advances. However, previous statements from Trump’s advisors hinted that Washington might suspend military aid to encourage Kyiv toward peace negotiations.
It’s unclear how committed Trump is to this proposal or if he will pursue it in office. Currently, neither Russia, which continues its offensives, nor Ukraine, which has stated it will not concede territory, has signaled a willingness to negotiate, according to the WSJ.
During his campaign, Trump said he would bring a swift resolution to the war, promising to get both sides to negotiate without revealing specifics: “I can’t give you those plans because if I give you those plans, I’m not going to be able to use them,” he stated.
Ukrainian soldiers reacted to Trump’s victory with cautious optimism, hoping for continued support in their fight against Russia while also concerned about the risks of his unpredictable policies.
A former Trump National Security Council aide told the WSJ that this proposed plan might just be speculation, stating that anyone claiming to know Trump’s plans for Ukraine “doesn’t understand that he makes his own calls on national security issues… especially on something as crucial as this.”
The U.S., Ukraine’s largest ally, has provided substantial support under the current administration, with President Joe Biden emphasizing that any peace talks must involve Kyiv and uphold its sovereignty.
