Trump's national security adviser is considering proposals to end Russia's war against Ukraine - CNN
Kyiv • UNN
Mike Waltz is considering several proposals to end the Russian Federation's war against Ukraine. The plans include a ceasefire, negotiations and possible conditions for Ukraine's membership in NATO.
The future national security adviser to US President-elect Donald Trump Mike Waltz is studying several proposals to end the Russian Federation's war against Ukraine, citing two sources familiar with the matter, reports CNN, writes UNN.
Details
"Mike Waltz, the future national security adviser to US President-elect Donald Trump, has been considering several proposals in recent days to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, including the proposal of General Keith Kellogg, whom Trump announced on Wednesday as his candidate for the post of special envoy to the countries," two sources familiar with the matter told CNN
According to the people, although the details of the strategy are still being worked out, "Trump officials are likely to insist on a cease-fire at an early stage to temporarily freeze the conflict while both sides negotiate." "Trump administration officials are also expected to insist that European allies and NATO shoulder most of the burden of cost-sharing in support of Ukraine," the newspaper writes.
The plans Waltz is considering, as indicated, include a proposal by Kellogg, who was a national security adviser in the first Trump administration.
"Kellogg's plan provides for the continuation of US military assistance to Ukraine will be conditioned on Kiev's participation in peace talks with Russia and "the formal policy of the United States to achieve a ceasefire and a negotiated settlement of the conflict in Ukraine." Meanwhile, Ukraine's desire to join NATO would be "postponed" for a long period in order to bring Russia to the negotiating table," the newspaper writes.
Waltz also considered a separate proposal, which was approved by former Trump ambassador to Germany Rick Grenell. Grenell has previously expressed support for the creation of "autonomous regions" inside Ukraine, although he did not explain in detail how this would look.
"Another idea that is being put forward is to allow Russia to retain the territory it currently holds in exchange for Ukraine gaining NATO membership, although few people in Trump's orbit seem to want to invite Ukraine to NATO in the near future, people say," the newspaper notes. This point of view, as indicated, is at least partially shared by the Biden administration, which has stated that Ukraine will join NATO, but only after the end of the war.
Trump and Biden's advisors join forces on war in UkraineNov 25 2024, 10:31 AM • 12712 views
Ukraine was among the issues Waltz discussed with Biden's national security adviser Jack Sullivan during a meeting last week.
A representative of the Trump transition team said that the US president-elect is committed to ending the war.
"As President Trump said during the election campaign, he is the only person who can bring both sides together for peace talks and work to end the war and stop the killings," said Stephen Cheng, Trump's communications director.
At the same time, Trump's allies, attracted to work in senior positions in the field of national security, have already publicly made it clear that the president-elect is considering a number of options to bring Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table, including some of those that seem to contradict his previously stated views on the conflict.
Sebastian Gorka, whom Trump recently appointed as one of Waltz's top deputies, recently called Russian President Vladimir Putin a "bandit" and said the new administration could increase U.S. military assistance to Ukraine beyond the current level of support in order to achieve an early end to the war.
"At the same time, Trump's top officials suggest that the president-elect will want to take the same tough stance on Ukraine and may threaten to refuse assistance if they do not sit down at the negotiating table, according to a source familiar with the ongoing discussions on ending the war," the newspaper writes.
Sources warn that it is "too early" to say what the Trump team's strategy to end the war in Ukraine will ultimately look like.
Trump himself is constantly changing his positions and communication tactics - especially on foreign policy issues - which means that the planning process for Ukraine is likely to be "smooth," said one source familiar with the internal discussions of the transition team.
