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At first, Trump gave the impression to embrace a strong stance concerning Ukraine. After issuing warnings of "significant repercussions" in August in case Putin persisted hindering truce discussions, Trump eventually introduced substantial restrictions on the Russian biggest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil. This action seriously impacted the Russian leader's ability to finance his war effort in the region.

However, with his latest 28-point peace plan for the conflict, which was drafted by American and Russian diplomats lacking Ukraine's or European participation, he has clearly returned to his favorable to Russia stance.

Favoring Aggression

This proposal would in practice favor the Russian leader for attacking Ukraine while leaving Ukraine's democracy in danger. Despite bold statements that "The nation's independence will be affirmed", much of the proposal actually weaken that essential sovereignty. What represents a Russian ideal would likely be a Ukrainian nightmare.

Reflecting his business experience, the former president continues to consider the war as a mere border issue, implying giving Russia a section of Ukrainian soil will appease the president. However, Putin's invasion is not merely about dominating a destroyed swath of economically weakened land in the Donbas region. It is about the nation's democracy – and Putin's clear intention to destroy it so it stops functions as an enticing model for the Russia's population of the responsible leadership that his deepening authoritarian rule denies them.

Territorial Giveaways

While maintaining in position the presently separated regions of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, Trump's proposal would require Ukraine to abandon the entire Donetsk province. Aside from rewarding Russia with area that its military have been unsuccessful to capture in over a decade of conflict, this concession would render Ukrainian defensive positions severely compromised.

The area is the location of Ukraine's highly-touted "stronghold system", the entrenched military defenses that constitute a key barrier to invading forces. The proposal would have the Ukrainian military abandon these defenses, leaving Putin a open route to the capital in case he subsequently decide to restart the conflict.

Defense Restrictions

Furthermore, in a step that would make additional fighting more feasible for the Russian military, the plan would mandate Ukraine to diminish the numbers of its troops from their present large number troops to a limit of 600,000. Importantly, Trump's initiative sets no similar constraints on the invading army.

Seemingly as a concession to Putin's attempts to portray the nation's democratically elected leadership as radicals, Trump's proposal states: "All extremist ideology and actions must be condemned and forbidden." As if to highlight this element, it demands that "Ukraine will hold political contests in 100 days" of a peace deal. Meanwhile, the proposal places no obligation that the Russian leader risk his regime by conducting elections in his own country.

Protection Assurances

Certainly, the initiative includes Russia pledge not to "attack other states" and to "incorporate in law its stance of non-violence towards European nations and the Ukrainian people". Yet considering that the Russian leadership has violated equivalent treaties in the past – such as the 1994 agreement, in which the Russian government promised to recognize the nation's sovereignty in exchange for surrendering its former Soviet atomic arms, and the previous peace deals, in which Russia promised to a truce and a handback of seized areas in the Donbas to Ukrainian control – how should the international community have confidence in Putin now?

That is why Ukraine has been so adamant on western defense commitments. Although the plan promises a "decisive joint military response" should Russia renew its invasion, and provides that "The nation will receive reliable security guarantees", the specifics range from vague to alarming. The initiative would not only block the nation alliance membership but also prevent alliance nations from deploying forces on the nation's land, effectively precluding the peacekeeping contingent, reportedly headed by European powers, on which Ukraine had been relying to prevent Putin from replenishing his reduced military, re-equipping, and attacking again.

International Reaction

A separate supplementary accord apparently would offer Ukraine with a similar to NATO defense commitment, in which any future "major, planned, and ongoing military assault" by the Russian Federation on Ukraine "would be considered as an attack jeopardizing the peace and security of the Western nations." This indicates a defense action. However in contrast to a capable Ukraine's armed forces – Ukraine's primary deterrent against future hostilities – the credibility of the parallel accord would depend on the willingness of Western powers, including Trump, to respond with force to Putin's attacks, an action they have {not