
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">President Trump’s recently unveiled 28âpoint peace plan for the Ukraine War is nothing short of a capitulation to Russian President Putin. The plan has been revised, but there is no confirmation of what that involves.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">As initially outlined, the Trump so-called peace plan is dressed up as diplomacy, but in reality, it is a sellout of Ukraine — an allied democracy fighting for survival against Russian aggression. Having followed Trump’s foreign policy maneuvers for years, I have often separated his personality from his policies. In this issue, both are fatally flawed. His bias toward Putin, despite repeated betrayals, is inexplicable and dangerous.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Let us examine the plan point by point, and why each element undermines Ukraine, weakens American leadership, and emboldens Moscow.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>1. Ceasefire Without Preconditions</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Trump’s plan calls for an immediate ceasefire. That sounds reasonable until you realize it freezes Russian territorial gains. It rewards aggression by allowing Putin to consolidate occupied regions. Ukraine, the victim, is forced to halt its counteroffensive, while Russia enjoys the spoils of war. ; It also gives Putin time to restore his badly damaged military.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>2. Recognition of Russian Control in Crimea</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This is a direct surrender. Crimea was illegally annexed in 2014. To recognize Russian sovereignty is to legitimize conquest. It tells the world that America will tolerate land grabs if the aggressor is powerful enough.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>3. Referendums in Occupied Territories</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Trump proposes “referendums” in Donetsk, Luhansk, and other occupied areas. These votes, conducted under Russian guns, would be a sham. Putin has already staged such plebiscites. To endorse them is to validate fraud.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>4. Neutrality for Ukraine</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The plan demands Ukraine renounce NATO membership. This strips Ukraine of its sovereign right to choose alliances. It leaves Kyiv defenseless, a buffer state permanently vulnerable to Moscow’s whims. ; In fact, membership in NATO should be part of any peace agreement.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>5. Limits on Ukraine’s Military</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Trump suggests capping Ukraine’s armed forces. That is absurd. A nation under constant threat cannot be asked to disarm. It is unilateral weakness imposed on the victim, while Russia faces no restrictions. ; This provision is an open invitation for Putin to invade again in the future. ; The Madman of Moscow has not given up his desire to possess all of Ukraine.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>6. Sanctions Relief for Russia</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The plan includes phased lifting of sanctions. This rewards Putin for his invasion. Sanctions are leverage. Removing them without Russian withdrawal is appeasement of the worst sort.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>7. No Reparations</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Ukraine has suffered hundreds of billions in damages. Trump’s plan absolves Russia of responsibility. It denies justice to Ukrainians whose homes, schools, and infrastructure have been destroyed.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>8. Prisoner Exchanges</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">While humanitarian in tone, this point equates aggressor and victim. It treats Russia as a legitimate partner rather than a war criminal state.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>9. International Monitors</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Trump proposes monitors but under joint U.S.-Russia oversight. That is a fox guarding the henhouse. Russia will manipulate the process, as it has with past “peacekeeping” missions – and Trump has proven himself to be a Putin partisan in the war between Russia and Ukraine.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>10. Energy Deals</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The plan envisions renewed energy trade between Europe and Russia. This restores Moscow’s economic lifeline and undermines Western efforts to diversify away from Russian gas. ; In fact, Trump is giving Putin energy resources that could have flowed to the United States under an earlier agreement between Washington and Kyiv.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>11. Diplomatic Recognition</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Trump suggests restoring full diplomatic ties with Russia. This normalizes relations while Russian troops remain on Ukrainian soil. It is premature and reckless.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>12. Security Guarantees by U.S. and Russia</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This bizarre arrangement makes Russia a guarantor of Ukraine’s security — the very aggressor entrusted to protect its victim. It is Orwellian.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>13. Limiting Western Military Aid</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Trump would halt advanced weapons deliveries. This cripples Ukraine’s defense and ensures Russia maintains superiority on the battlefield – leaving Ukraine vulnerable to a future invasion.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>14. Joint Reconstruction Projects</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Russia is invited to participate in rebuilding Ukraine. Imagine the arsonist being paid to repair the house he burned down. ; This also gives Russia leverage in Ukraine’s post-war economy</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>15. No Accountability for War Crimes</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The plan ignores prosecution of Russian atrocities. Bucha, Mariupol, Kharkiv — all erased from the ledger. Justice is sacrificed for expediency.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>16. Return of Refugees Without Guarantees</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Millions of displaced Ukrainians are told to return, but with no assurances of safety or restitution. It is a cruel demand. ; There is no requirement for Russia to return the thousands of children kidnapped.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>17. Limiting Western Influence</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Trump insists Western NGOs and advisors reduce their presence. This further isolates Ukraine from democratic partners and leaves it exposed to Russian propaganda.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>18. Economic Integration with Russia</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Ukraine is pushed toward trade deals with Moscow. This reâenslaves Ukraine economically, undoing years of progress in shifting toward Europe.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>19. No NATO or American Troops in Eastern Europe</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Trump’s plan scales back NATO deployments. This weakens deterrence and signals retreat from American commitments.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>20. Joint Military Exercises with Russia</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Ukraine is forced into military cooperation with its invader. This is humiliation disguised as partnership. ; IT would be an unequal partnership.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>21. Cultural Autonomy for Russian Speaking People</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This sounds benign but is a Trojan horse. Russia has long exploited “protecting Russian speakers” as a pretext for invasion.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>22. Restrictions on Ukrainian Media</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Trump proposes curbs on Ukrainian wartime media, echoing Putin’s propaganda narrative that Kyiv is authoritarian under martial law.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>23. Ban on Western Bases</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Ukraine is denied the right to host Western bases. This ensures permanent vulnerability.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>24. Joint Border Patrols</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Russia is invited to patrol Ukraine’s borders. Again, the aggressor is given control over the victim’s sovereignty.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>25. Shared Intelligence</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Ukraine must share intelligence with Russia. This compromises national security and exposes resistance networks.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>26. Limiting U.S. Aid</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Trump caps American financial support. This signals abandonment of a critical ally.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>27. No Path to EU Membership</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">As ; with ; NATO, Ukraine’s aspirations for European integration are blocked. This denies Ukrainians their chosen future.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>28. Permanent Neutral Zone</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Finally, Trump envisions Ukraine as a neutral buffer between East and West. This is not peace; it is subjugation.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Why This Plan Is Dangerous</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Taken together, these points represent a total surrender to Putin. Ukraine loses territory, sovereignty, justice, and security. America loses credibility, leadership, and moral authority. Allies will see this as abandonment. Adversaries will see it as weakness.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Trump’s bias toward Putin — despite repeated betrayals — is inexplicable. He has blamed Ukraine for starting the war, called Zelenskyy a dictator, and parroted Kremlin talking points. This plan is not diplomacy. ; It is appeasement. It undermines everything America has stood for since World War II: defending freedom against tyranny.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">It also undermines American leadership in the world. ; American allies will not long trust the United States as a protector of democracy and freedom. It will show America’s enemies that the United States is a paper tiger – able to be rolled by a tinhorn despot. ; If adopted, it would mark the most shameful retreat of American leadership in modern history.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Trump’s 28-point plan is more evidence of his inexplicable longstanding bias toward Putin. ; It has been seen throughout his time as President. ; Trump’s Ukraine policy, however, is the most disturbing and dangerous example. While it is presented as Trump’s peace plan, it is really Putin’s victory plan. Trump’s plan – or anything like it &#8212; is not only selling out Ukraine, but he is also selling out NATO &#8212; and the nation he is sworn to defend.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">So, there ‘tis.</p>

Trump’s 28‑Point Ukraine “Peace Plan” is wrong and dangerous
