The Trump team is developing a plan for the "freezing" of the war, which includes the establishment of autonomous and demilitarized zones within Ukraine without the country's accession to NATO.
According to sources from the Financial Times, this decision aims to swiftly bring an end to the conflict, with Europe serving as the guarantor of peace, while the U.S. and NATO will play a minimal role.
Trump's advisors emphasize that U.S. economic and security interests should be limited. Consequently, the primary expenses and military oversight of the peace process should be borne by European allies. Mike Waltz, a key Republican figure in national security, highlights that European partners must take on greater responsibility for security on the continent, particularly in light of increasing defense spending among NATO members.
According to Fred Fleitz, a former CIA officer and Trump administration official, the plan also includes a new format for negotiations with Russia, considering a compromise option for "freezing" the conflict. At the same time, under this scheme, Ukraine retains its claims to its territories, but any resolution of the issue is postponed until there is a change in power in Russia.
Fleitz asserts that the U.S. should not participate in the negotiations, and all financial support should be provided solely by Europe. This approach represents a sort of adaptation of the Minsk agreements, where European troops, rather than NATO or UN forces, would perform oversight functions.
The idea of "freezing" the war is also supported by J.D. Vance, a candidate for vice president. He proposed to freeze the conflict by creating autonomous zones on both sides of the demilitarized territory while leaving Ukraine's status "diplomatically undefined" — without joining NATO.
Source: financialtime.