If Donald Trump wins the United States presidential election in November, he has pledged to bring the war in Ukraine to swift end by brokering an agreement between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump himself has yet to elaborate on the terms of any potential deal, but his vice presidential pick, Senator JD Vance, recently provided some insight into what a Trump peace proposal might involve.
In a September 11 interview with The Shawn Ryan Show, Vance outlined a settlement that would allow the Kremlin to retain control over all Ukrainian territory currently under Russian occupation. Meanwhile, Ukraine would be expected to reject NATO membership and commit to international neutrality.
It is important to underline that Vance’s interpretation has not been officially endorsed and may not match Trump’s personal vision for a future peace plan. Nevertheless, his comments have added to existing concerns in Kyiv, where many fear that Ukraine’s Western partners may eventually attempt to pressure the country into an unjust peace.
Vance is far from alone in indicating that any future negotiated settlement would include Ukraine ceding land to Russia. Numerous other foreign politicians and commentators have also suggested that some form of Ukrainian territorial concessions are inevitable. However, the idea of a land-for-peace deal remains deeply unpopular in Ukraine itself. Ukrainians believe an agreement of this nature would have disastrous consequences for their own country and would set a dangerous precedent for the future of international security.
Voice of Ukraine 