Trump’s Ukraine Peace Plan Faces Pushback from Moscow, but Western Leaders Remain Engaged
The US is actively trying to broker an end to the war in Ukraine, with President Donald Trump leading a high-profile effort to secure a peace deal. However, his proposed 28-point peace plan is reportedly facing significant resistance from Moscow. According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russian officials and state media are preparing the public to reject any solution that falls short of “full victory.”
ISW highlighted that Alexei Chepa, First Deputy Head of the State Duma International Affairs Committee, emphasized that any settlement must meet Russia’s full demands. Moscow’s goal, he stated, is to address the “root causes” of the war a term often used by the Kremlin to justify its original demands, including undermining Ukrainian sovereignty and NATO’s presence. Chepa suggested that while Trump’s plan offers more concessions than previous proposals, it still does not satisfy Russia’s maximalist objectives.
Meanwhile, State Duma Defense Committee Member Andrei Kolesnik confirmed that Russia has no intention of returning annexed Ukrainian territories, signaling a firm stance against territorial compromise. He also repeated the false claim that Russia’s victory is inevitable, implying that Ukraine should surrender to Russian demands.
Even Leonid Slutsky, head of the Russian Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR), described the plan as a “good basis” for negotiation, but he also highlighted Russia’s ongoing advances in eastern Ukraine reinforcing that the Kremlin remains committed to pursuing its war objectives militarily. Russian state media and milbloggers are reportedly promoting similar messages, indicating little interest in negotiating until battlefield goals are achieved.
Despite these challenges, ISW stressed that a Russian victory is not guaranteed. Ukraine and its Western allies can still leverage key weaknesses in Russia’s position to pressure the Kremlin into meaningful concessions.
On the diplomatic front, cooperation among Western leaders continues. Sir Keir Starmer and President Trump recently spoke, agreeing on the need to work together during this “critical moment” for Ukraine. The discussions coincided with US-led talks in Geneva, described by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ukrainian negotiator Andriy Yermak as the most productive of the peace process so far.
Rubio noted that teams from the US, Ukraine, and Europe are now reviewing suggestions and making adjustments to narrow differences, aiming to move closer to a just and lasting peace. Downing Street confirmed that Starmer and Trump focused on various aspects of the talks, underscoring the high-level commitment to ending the conflict diplomatically.
While Moscow remains resistant, ongoing coordination between the US, the UK, Ukraine, and European partners suggests that meaningful progress is still possible if the Kremlin can be persuaded to engage seriously at the negotiating table.
Russia will eject any settlement that does not show that Russia is not in charge.
ReplyDelete