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At first, Trump seemed to take a resolute stance on the Ukrainian conflict. Following issuing threats of "serious ramifications" last August should Putin persisted blocking truce talks, the former president eventually enacted major penalties on the Russian two largest petroleum corporations, Lukoil and Rosneft. This move seriously hindered Putin's ability to support his war effort in Ukraine.

However, through his recently unveiled comprehensive peace initiative for the conflict, that was drafted by both nations' diplomats excluding Ukraine's or European involvement, Trump has seemingly reverted to his favorable to Russia stance.

Favoring Military Action

Trump's plan would effectively favor Putin for attacking a sovereign nation while placing the country's democracy in peril. Despite bold statements that "The nation's independence will be upheld", much of the initiative in reality weaken that same sovereignty. Seen as a Kremlin dream would certainly be a disaster for Ukraine.

Reflecting his real-estate experience, the former president continues to view the war as a mere border issue, implying handing Putin a portion of Ukrainian land will appease the leader. However, Putin's military campaign is not simply about occupying a destroyed region of deindustrialized area in eastern Ukraine. It is about Ukraine's political system – and the Russian leader's apparent goal to eliminate it so it no longer acts as an attractive standard for the Russian people of the responsible governance that his growing autocracy prevents them.

Land Concessions

While freezing in position the currently divided oblasts of these areas, Trump's proposal would force Ukraine to surrender the entire this eastern territory. Aside from favoring Russia with land that its forces have been failed to capture in over a ten years of fighting, this surrender would make Ukraine's defenses critically weakened.

Donetsk is the site of the nation's highly-touted "stronghold system", the entrenched protective structures that constitute a key barrier to invading forces. The proposal would have the Ukrainian military surrender these fortifications, giving Russian forces a open path to Kyiv if he later opt to restart the war.

Military Restrictions

Furthermore, in a action that would make additional fighting easier for Russia, the plan would require the nation to diminish the size of its troops from their current 800,000 to 850,000 soldiers to a cap of 600,000. Significantly, Trump's plan imposes no similar restrictions on Russia's military.

Seemingly as a concession to Russia's efforts to characterize the nation's democratically elected administration as extremists, the proposal declares: "Any Nazi doctrine and activities must be opposed and prohibited." Seemingly to emphasize this aspect, it demands that "The nation will hold elections in 100 days" of a truce. Meanwhile, Trump imposes no requirement that the Russian leader risk his authoritarian rule by allowing democratic processes in Russia.

Defense Commitments

Admittedly, the plan makes the Russian Federation promise not to "enter neighboring countries" and to "enshrine in law its policy of non-aggression towards the EU and the Ukrainian people". Yet taking into account that the Russian leadership has breached similar agreements in the previous instances – for example the Budapest accord, in which Russia committed to recognize Ukraine's territorial integrity in return for giving up its historical nuclear weapons, and the previous peace deals, in which Russia promised to a truce and a return of captured territory in the Donbas to the government – how should the international community believe Russia on this occasion?

For this reason Ukraine has been so determined on international protection assurances. While the proposal promises a "decisive coordinated military response" should the Russian Federation restart its aggression, and includes that "The nation will receive reliable protection assurances", the particulars include fuzzy to alarming. The proposal would not only prevent Ukraine Nato membership but also prohibit Nato members from positioning troops on Ukrainian territory, thereby preventing the peacekeeping contingent, likely headed by Britain and France, on which Ukraine had been relying to prevent Putin from restoring his weakened military, re-equipping, and resuming aggression.

International Concern

Another side agreement according to sources would offer Ukraine with a alliance-like defense commitment, in which any future "major, planned, and ongoing armed attack" by Russia on the country "will be treated as an assault threatening the tranquility of the transatlantic community." That suggests a defense action. However in contrast to a powerful Ukrainian military – the nation's primary protection against additional hostilities – the credibility of the parallel accord would rely on the willingness of alliance members, such as Trump, to react militarily to Putin's aggression, something they have {not