The newly elected President of the United States, Donald Trump, has initiated efforts to end the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia. He has stated that a truce should be reached through negotiations between Russia and Ukraine as soon as possible. Although his inauguration is just hours away, Trump has already begun working toward ending the Ukraine war.
Trump’s Plan
During his presidential campaign, Trump claimed that if elected, he could stop the Russia-Ukraine war within 24 hours. For this, he proposed delaying Ukraine’s NATO membership by at least 20 years. He believes that if the war continues, Ukraine will not be able to achieve victory, and it will only result in the wastage of Western nations’ resources and wealth.
Call for a Ceasefire
Last December, Donald Trump urged the leaders of Ukraine and Russia to quickly agree on a ceasefire. On his social media, Trump wrote, “Zelensky and Ukraine should agree to a deal to stop this madness.” Through this comment, Trump began the process of ending the war.
Economic Perspective
According to Trump, the U.S. defense system is strong enough, and NATO’s European members need to improve their own defense mechanisms. He believes that the war is causing excessive expenditure by Western countries while China is advancing in global trade.
Threat to Leave NATO
Trump has also hinted at considering the withdrawal of U.S. military aid to Ukraine and even the possibility of the U.S. leaving NATO to end the war. This remark has alarmed Ukraine, NATO allies, and U.S. national security circles, as such a move could significantly change the dynamics of the conflict.
Russia’s Reaction
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov have stated that delaying Ukraine’s NATO membership would not end the war. They consider this proposal insufficient. According to them, the root causes and security-related issues of the conflict must be addressed to find a true resolution.
Zelensky’s Cautionary Statement
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed hope that he can compel Russia to join peace talks. He believes that Ukraine’s security can be ensured with the cooperation of Trump and Europe. However, Zelensky has warned that if Ukraine does not receive guarantees of security, Putin may launch another attack.
Analysts believe that Western countries have provoked Ukraine against Russia and helped initiate this war. Russia, on the other hand, is trying to fulfill its geopolitical ambitions through the conflict. The war is decreasing the use of the U.S. dollar while strengthening ties between Russia and China. However, the resolution of the Ukraine war now largely depends on Trump. Yet, stopping the war through Trump’s individual efforts alone may be difficult, given the complex geopolitical and long-term conflicts involving multiple nations and powers.
Meanwhile, a ceasefire agreement has been reached after 15 months of severe violence in Gaza. Donald Trump has been credited as the primary force behind this agreement. While the outgoing Biden administration was also involved in the agreement, Trump’s diplomatic pressure and political influence are seen as the main driving factors. According to U.S. media reports, although the Biden administration was in a transitional phase, the ceasefire initiative gained momentum following Trump’s election victory. This demonstrates that Trump’s political commitment played a significant role in securing the truce. However, there remains some uncertainty about the implementation and long-term outcomes of the agreement.