Throughout his campaign for the White House, Trump criticized Biden’s handling of Ukraine, warning that it made a third world war more likely and that kyiv had defrauded the United States by obtaining free weapons from a worth several billion dollars. He said he could resolve the conflict quickly, by bringing both sides to the negotiating table, but did not reveal how he would do so.

“I can’t give you these plans because if I give them to you, I won’t be able to use them,” he said during the campaign.

In fact, Trump has not endorsed a specific peace plan, the allies said, including how he would persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to sit at the same table and negotiate. Although advisers have proposed ideas, only the president-elect, in consultation with his top aides, will decide how to handle this sensitive, high-stakes diplomacy, they said.

“Anyone, regardless of their rank in Trump’s entourage, who claims to have a different point of view or a more detailed view of his plans regarding Ukraine, simply does not know what he is talking about or does not understand that he makes his own decisions. on national security issues, repeatedly right now, especially on an issue as central as this,” said a former Trump National Security Council adviser.

As during Trump’s first term, different factions will compete to influence the Republican’s foreign policy. More traditional allies such as Mike Pompeo, the former secretary of state now in the running to lead the Pentagon, are likely to push for a settlement that does not appear to deliver a major victory for Moscow. Other advisers, including Ric Grenell, a leading candidate to head the State Department or serve as national security adviser, could prioritize Trump’s push to end the war as soon as possible. quickly possible, even if it means forcing kyiv to make significant concessions.

The proposals all depart from Biden’s approach of letting kyiv dictate when peace talks should begin. Instead, they unanimously recommend freezing the war – cementing Russia’s seizure of about 20 percent of Ukraine – and forcing Ukraine to temporarily suspend its quest for membership in the Treaty Organization. of the North Atlantic.

One idea proposed within Trump’s transition office, detailed by three people close to the president-elect and not previously reported, would involve kyiv promising not to join NATO for at least 20 years. In exchange, the United States would continue to provide weapons to Ukraine to deter a future Russian attack.

Under the plan, the front line would essentially be locked down and the two sides would agree to an 800-mile demilitarized zone. It’s unclear who would police that territory, but one adviser said the peacekeeping force would not involve U.S. troops, nor would it come from a U.S.-funded international body, such as the United Nations.

“We can provide training and other support, but the barrel of the gun will be European,” said a member of Trump’s team. “We are not sending American men and women to keep the peace in Ukraine. And we are not paying for it. Ask the Poles, Germans, British and French to do it.”

This proposal echoes in some ways comments made by Vice President-elect JD Vance in a September interview, when he suggested that a final deal between Ukraine and Russia could involve a “heavily fortified” demilitarized zone so that the Russians do not invade again.” Vance continued, could keep the lands he took and be assured of Ukraine’s neutrality.

“He’s not joining NATO, he’s not joining some of these allied institutions,” he said on “The Shawn Ryan Show” podcast.

Earlier this year, Keith Kellogg and Fred Fleitz, who both served in the first Trump White House, presented Trump with a plan to hold back weapons in Ukraine until kyiv agreed to peace talks with the Russia. Ukraine could still try to regain lost territories, but it would have to do so through diplomatic negotiations.

It’s unclear which of these strategies Trump will pursue – in whole, in part, or not at all. But any attempt to begin peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, let alone reach an agreement, faces many pitfalls.

On the one hand, Ukraine and Russia still have very different war goals and have little desire to change them. As Russian troops advance slowly but surely into Ukraine, the Kremlin has shown little inclination to negotiate and has shown its willingness to escalate the conflict with hybrid attacks outside its borders, such as sabotage operations in Europe.

“The objectives of the special military operation remain unchanged and will be achieved,” Dmitry Medvedev, a senior Russian official, told X on Wednesday after learning of Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate. .

There will also be strong resistance from some NATO allies, who view Russian aggression against Ukraine as an immediate threat to their own countries. Elina Valtonen, Finland’s foreign minister, said she was not aware of any specific proposals from Trump’s team, but said “there should be no negotiations without Ukraine accepts the fact that she negotiates, and that she does so on her terms.”

Zelensky, whose country relies heavily on military and financial aid from the United States, could – more easily than Putin – be forced by Trump to negotiate, but the Ukrainian leader would face a public opinion that considers ceding territory as a capitulation to Moscow.

Trump has said Ukraine’s survival is important to the United States, but has repeatedly criticized Zelensky, calling him a “best salesman,” a stance that has worried some officials in kyiv that the United States United States led by Trump could push for a settlement favorable to Russia.

Zelensky congratulated the president-elect on his victory on Wednesday, calling for their September meeting in New York and praising his “‘peace through strength’ approach to world affairs.”

The Ukrainian leader also said Wednesday that he spoke on the phone with Trump, adding that the two men “agreed to maintain a close dialogue and advance our cooperation.”

Alan Cullison contributed to this article.

Write to Alexander Ward at [email protected]