A month and a half after Donald Trump’s win in the US presidential election, the details of his peace plan are still a bit unclear. However, some ideas are starting to surface through statements from Trump himself and his key advisors.
Let’s dive into what Trump, Keith Kellogg, and Mike Waltz are saying about the potential path to peace in Ukraine.
What Donald Trump Says
In his first press conference after the election victory on December 16, Trump made it clear that both Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and Russian President Putin “must be ready for an agreement.” He’s planning to have talks with both leaders to try and end the conflict.
Trump stated, “We need to stop this carnage,” adding that he will be negotiating directly with Putin and Zelenskyy. However, he didn’t go into details about what kind of agreement he’s aiming for or whether Ukraine might need to give up any territory.
In an interview with Time on December 12, Trump said he didn’t want to reveal too much about his peace plan. He explained that sharing too many details early on could make the plan “worthless.”
Trump also made it clear that while he doesn’t want to abandon Ukraine, he’s not a fan of escalating the war with deep strikes into Russian territory. He’s concerned that sending missiles so far into Russia only worsens the situation.
He’s eager to meet Putin soon to discuss peace, though reports about whether they’ve already spoken are conflicting. The Kremlin denies any conversation has taken place.
What Keith Kellogg Says
Keith Kellogg, who is set to be Trump’s special representative for Ukraine and Russia, shared his thoughts in a Fox Business interview on December 13. He believes both Ukraine and Russia are ready to negotiate and thinks Trump could play the role of the referee in the conflict.
Kellogg compared the situation to a “cage fight,” where both sides are exhausted and ready to “tap out.” He suggested that Trump could help bring both sides to the table for a peace agreement.
In early January, Kellogg is expected to visit Ukraine. He also mentioned the possibility of Trump arranging a meeting with both Zelenskyy and Putin in Washington, describing Trump’s diplomatic style as “three-level chess,” meaning anything is possible when it comes to his approach.
What Mike Waltz Says
Mike Waltz, who will be Trump’s National Security Advisor, addressed a question from CBS News about whether Trump’s team plans to limit Ukraine’s use of US military aid. He emphasized that Trump doesn’t believe in a “blank check” approach. In other words, Trump wants to provide support to Ukraine, but he also wants to ensure that it’s part of a clear strategy, not just endless aid.
Waltz confirmed that Trump’s team still plans to continue military aid to Ukraine, but with conditions that align with his broader goal of bringing the war to an end. According to some sources, Trump opposes Ukraine’s NATO membership but believes that military aid after a ceasefire can help maintain peace through strength.
Waltz also hinted that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán may be playing a role as a go-between for Trump and Putin, though he didn’t go into specifics.
What’s Next?
Trump and his team are realizing that ending the war in a day or two isn’t realistic. As they gather more information and continue talks with global leaders, they’re coming to terms with the fact that bringing peace to Ukraine will take time.
While the specifics of Trump’s peace plan are still a work in progress, it seems unlikely that the US will cut off aid to Ukraine completely. Instead, aid is likely to continue as leverage for negotiations, with the goal of ending the war.
In the meantime, President Biden has been ramping up military aid to Ukraine, but it’s unclear if Trump will be able to use all of it once he takes office.
Trump’s peace plan is still unfolding, but the messages from him and his team suggest that they’re preparing for serious talks aimed at bringing an end to the conflict. The details will likely continue to evolve as they work toward a solution.
