Taylor Weighs In on Trump’s Ukraine Peace Plan in Newsweek Article

July 5, 2024

Newsweek

Brian Taylor

Political Science Department

Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs

Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict & Collaboration

Conflict

Government

International Affairs

Russia

Brian Taylor

Trump has repeatedly said he could settle the war in Ukraine within a day if he defeats President Joe Biden in November, without presenting evidence of how he would do so.

But one proposal drawn up by Fred Fleitz and retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, who were chiefs of staff in Trump's National Security Council, involves telling Ukraine it would get more U.S. military support only if it entered peace talks (as reported by Reuters).

The proposal would also mean warning Moscow that any refusal to negotiate would signify increased American support for Ukraine and would require a ceasefire based on prevailing battle lines.

“The idea of a peace plan for Russia's war against Ukraine sounds nice, but the ideas proposed by two Trump advisers would not be acceptable to either Russia or Ukraine,” says Brian Taylor, professor of political science and director of the Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs.

“The two countries' objectives are incompatible,” says Taylor. “Russia wants to have political control over Ukraine and eliminate the idea of Ukraine as a separate nation, and Ukraine wants to defend its territory, its people, and its democracy from Russian violence and domination.”

Read more in the Newsweek article, “Donald Trump's Ukraine Peace Plan Trashed by Experts: 'Incompatible'.”