A document reported by Ukrainian media to be Trump’s ‘Peace Plan for Ukraine’ has been leaked and includes a ceasefire by Easter, the ceding of land to Russia and no NATO membership. The Mail has more.
Trump, who has long claimed that he would be able to negotiate an ending to the brutal invasion of Ukraine in a single day, is said to be working to end the war within 100 days.
The unconfirmed plans, reported by Ukrainian outlet Strana, have been doing the rounds in “political and diplomatic circles” in Ukraine, and will include a ceasefire by April 20th that would freeze Russia’s steady advance, a ban on Ukraine from joining NATO and a demand for Kyiv to accept Russian sovereignty on annexed land.
On top of this, Ukrainian troops will be made to leave Russia’s Kursk region, where it launched a counteroffensive in August, while a contingent of European soldiers, which could include British troops, would be asked to police a demilitarised zone. American troops will not be involved in this contingent.
The EU will reportedly be asked to assist Ukraine in its reconstruction efforts, which may cost as much as $486 billion (£392 billion) over the next decade according to the German Marshall Fund thinktank.
The plans will reportedly begin with a phone call between Zelensky and Vladimir Putin in early February, a meeting between the two warring leaders in late February to early March and an official ceasefire declaration of a ceasefire by April 20th.
A declaration on the agreed parameters for ending the war would then be released by May 9th, after which Kyiv would be asked not to extend martial law or mobilise troops.
While many of the terms of the reported plans include concessions for Ukraine, Trump is also reportedly planning on continuing American support for Ukraine’s military, as well as a pathway for it to join the EU by 2030.
But Russia would also make significant gains as the plans include lifting sanctions on Russian energy over several years, though money from special duties on energy will be used to help fund Ukraine’s rebuilding efforts.
Zelensky’s office has strenuously denied the legitimacy of the peace plans.
Andriy Yermak, the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, wrote on Telegram that they did not “exist in reality”, adding that such reports often disguised allegations spread by Russians.
Worth reading in full.
Meanwhile preparations for a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump are said to be at an “advanced stage”. Russian state news agency RIA today quoted senior lawmaker Leonid Slutsk that talks between the two leaders are imminent, possibly taking place later this month or next month.
The Telegraph reports that Trump’s peace plan is expected to be presented at the Munich Security Conference next week.
The blueprint would reportedly be presented to allies by Keith Kellogg, the President’s Special Representative for Ukraine, in the first step towards ending the conflict.
The proposal, which is expected to be delivered during the conference in Germany, would come a week before the war reaches its three year mark.
It includes potentially freezing the conflict and the territory occupied by Russian forces while assuring Ukraine with security guarantees to ensure that Moscow cannot attack again.
“I’ll meet with America’s allies who are ready to work with us,” Mr Kellogg said, appearing to confirm plans to attend the Munich gathering.
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