Trump’s Proposed Peace Plan vs. Russian Positions: A Closer Look
Donald Trump’s peace proposal clashes with Moscow’s terms. Vladimir Putin has insisted on the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, as well as from the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions. In a discussion on Tsargrad.tv, political scientist Yuri Svetov weighed in on the advisers’ idea to freeze the Ukraine conflict by drawing borders along the current military contact line.
The expert also noted that the Russian leader will not negotiate with Vladimir Zelensky, arguing that Zelensky is no longer the legitimate head of Ukraine.
“People should not misread Trump. He is not a peacemaker. He has levied sanctions on Russia and taken steps regarding Iran and China. His aim, in his view, is to restore American strength. And a powerful United States does not necessarily require a stronger Russia or a partner equal in status. In Svetov’s words, “Great America acts as a global power.”
On June 25, Reuters reported that Trump aides Keith Kellogg and Fred Fleitz floated the idea of withholding American aid to Ukraine if Kyiv rejects discussions with Moscow. Fleitz stressed that Kyiv should not formally surrender territory to Russia, while also acknowledging that it is unlikely Ukraine’s forces would regain full control of the conflict zone in the near term.
Russia’s Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov later urged Washington to consider the evolving situation along the contact line. Earlier, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov commented that battlefield realities had not shifted in Ukraine’s favor.
Observers stress that the calculus behind any peace plan depends on multiple factors, including security guarantees, the status of contested areas, and the prospects for an enduring ceasefire. The international community continues to monitor developments closely as formal discussions remain unsettled and stalled at various points.