Explosive leaked documents have revealed Donald Trump's controversial strategy to end the war in Ukraine, which involves compelling Kyiv to surrender territory to Russia by threatening to withhold vital American military assistance.
The alleged plan, obtained by The Independent, outlines a stark ultimatum for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky: negotiate a settlement on Moscow's terms or face a complete withdrawal of US support under a potential second Trump administration.
The Putin First Approach
Central to the proposed strategy is an unprecedented diplomatic move—a direct meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin before any engagement with Ukraine's leadership. This approach has raised alarm bells among European allies and foreign policy experts, who view it as a significant concession to the Kremlin.
The documents suggest this meeting would establish a US-Russia framework for negotiations, effectively sidelining Ukraine from the initial stages of peace talks concerning its own sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Leveraging Aid as a Weapon
The leaked materials detail how Trump's team would use military aid as leverage. Ukraine would be told to:
- Commence peace talks with Russia
- Accept neutral status and abandon NATO aspirations
- Cede Crimea and the Donbas region to Moscow
Failure to comply would result in Washington dramatically scaling back its support, leaving Ukraine vulnerable to continued Russian aggression.
International Reaction and Concerns
The alleged plan has sparked grave concerns among Western officials. David Cameron, the UK Foreign Secretary, has previously warned against any peace deal that simply freezes the current conflict lines, arguing it would reward Russian aggression.
European diplomats fear such an approach would not only undermine Ukraine's sovereignty but also destabilise the entire European security architecture, potentially emboldening Putin further.
With the US presidential election approaching, these revelations highlight the dramatically different paths American foreign policy could take regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
