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Initially, Donald Trump appeared to take a strong position on the Ukrainian conflict. Following making statements of "serious consequences" during the summer if Putin persisted hindering truce talks, Trump ultimately enacted substantial sanctions on Russia's primary energy firms, Lukoil and Rosneft. This action seriously affected Putin's capability to finance his war effort in Ukraine.

Yet, with his recently unveiled comprehensive peace plan for Ukraine, that was developed by US and Russian representatives lacking Ukraine's or EU participation, he has clearly returned to his pro-Putin approach.

Rewarding Invasion

This initiative would essentially benefit the Russian leader for attacking Ukraine while leaving the country's democracy in peril. Although strong declarations that "The nation's independence will be confirmed", large portions of the proposal actually weaken that same sovereignty. This constitutes a Kremlin dream would likely be a Ukrainian nightmare.

Demonstrating his real-estate experience, Trump seems to view the war as a basic land disagreement, implying handing Russia a section of Ukraine's territory will appease the ruler. Yet, Russia's military campaign is not simply about dominating a damaged swath of industrial-devastated area in Ukraine's east. Rather, it is about Ukraine's democracy – and the Russian leader's apparent desire to destroy it so it no longer serves as an enticing standard for the Russia's population of the accountable government that Putin's deepening authoritarian rule denies them.

Territorial Surrenders

While keeping in place the already separated oblasts of these areas, Trump's proposal would compel Ukraine to give up the entire Donetsk province. Aside from favoring Russia with land that its military have been unable to capture in exceeding a lengthy period of fighting, this giveaway would leave Ukraine's military defenses critically weakened.

This region is the location of the nation's much-vaunted "defensive line", the entrenched defensive positions that constitute a key barrier to Russian advances. The proposal would have Ukraine abandon these positions, providing Russian forces a open route to Kyiv in case he later decide to renew the war.

Defense Limitations

Furthermore, in a action that would enable future conflict simpler for Russia, the plan would mandate Ukraine to diminish the size of its troops from their current approximately 800,000 personnel to a limit of this lower number. Significantly, Trump's initiative sets no equivalent limits on Russian forces.

Apparently as a accommodation to Russia's efforts to depict the nation's democratically elected administration as extremists, Trump's plan declares: "Any radical belief system and activities must be opposed and banned." Apparently to highlight this aspect, it demands that "Ukraine will hold political contests in three months" of a ceasefire agreement. At the same time, the proposal sets no obligation that the Russian leader risk his dictatorship by holding elections in Russia.

Defense Guarantees

Admittedly, the plan includes the Russian Federation promise not to "enter neighboring countries" and to "enshrine in law its position of peaceful relations towards European nations and Ukraine". However taking into account that Putin has breached similar treaties in the history – such as the Budapest accord, in which the Russian government committed to recognize Ukraine's borders in exchange for surrendering its historical nuclear weapons, and the previous peace deals, in which Russia committed to a ceasefire and a return of occupied territory in the Donbas to Kyiv – why should the international community trust Putin this time?

This explains Ukraine has been so determined on international defense commitments. Although the initiative warns of a "decisive coordinated defense action" in case Russia resume its aggression, and includes that "Ukraine will receive dependable protection assurances", the specifics vary from unclear to troubling. The initiative would not just block Ukraine accession to NATO but also prevent Nato members from stationing troops on Ukrainian territory, thus precluding the peacekeeping contingent, reportedly led by European powers, on which Ukraine had been counting to deter Russia from rebuilding his reduced forces, re-equipping, and reinvading.

International Concern

A separate side agreement reportedly would provide the nation with a Nato-style protection assurance, in which any subsequent "significant, planned, and sustained aggression" by Russia on the country "will be treated as an attack threatening the tranquility of the allied countries." This indicates a armed reaction. Yet in contrast to a capable Ukraine's armed forces – Ukraine's most reliable protection against future invasion – the credibility of the supplementary deal would rely on the willingness of Western powers, such as Trump, to respond militarily to Russia's aggression, a response they have {not