Two prominent advisers to President Trump have devised a strategy to end the Russo-Ukrainian war, contingent on Trump's victory in the upcoming presidential election on November 5. The plan hinges on conditioning further U.S. military support to Ukraine on its willingness to engage in peace negotiations.
Retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, a national security adviser to Trump, explained that the U.S. would simultaneously caution Moscow that rejecting negotiations would lead to escalated American support for Ukraine.
This plan, crafted by Kellogg and Fred Fleitz—both former chiefs of staff in Trump's National Security Council—envisions a ceasefire based on the current front lines during the peace talks, according to Fleitz. They have presented their proposal to Trump, who reportedly received it positively. Fleitz clarified, “I’m not saying he agreed with it entirely, but we were pleased with his feedback.”
Trump’s spokesperson, Steven Cheung, emphasized that only statements from Trump or his authorized campaign members should be considered official. The detailed plan from Kellogg and Fleitz marks the most specific strategy proposed by Trump’s associates, although Trump has previously claimed he could quickly resolve the conflict if elected, without specifying his methods.
The proposed strategy signifies a significant shift in U.S. policy towards the war and would likely encounter resistance from European allies and some members of Trump's Republican Party. The Kremlin responded that any potential peace plan from a future Trump administration must reflect the realities on the ground, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stating that President Putin remains open to negotiations.
Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak criticized the idea of freezing hostilities along the current front lines, highlighting that Russia’s invasion violated international law. He reiterated that Ukraine’s peace stance, outlined by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, insists on a fair settlement based on international law.
The core aspects of the plan were detailed in a research paper by the “America First Policy Institute,” a think tank with Trump affiliations, where Kellogg and Fleitz hold leadership roles. Kellogg stressed the urgency of bringing both Russia and Ukraine to the negotiation table swiftly if Trump wins. “We would tell the Ukrainians that U.S. support will cease if they refuse to negotiate,” he said. “And we would warn Putin that non-participation in talks would lead to increased military aid to Ukraine.”
The paper also suggests deferring Ukraine’s NATO membership as an incentive for Russia to negotiate. Since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, the front lines have largely remained static, despite significant casualties and intense trench warfare reminiscent of World War II.
Fleitz acknowledged that Ukraine might not need to formally cede territory under their plan, but he noted the improbability of Ukraine regaining full control of its territory in the near future. He expressed concern that the war's continuation would devastate a generation of young men.
Kellogg and Fleitz argued that lasting peace would necessitate additional security guarantees for Ukraine, with Fleitz suggesting that heavily arming Ukraine could be a crucial component of their strategy.
