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For a brief period, the former US president appeared to take a resolute approach regarding the Ukrainian conflict. Following issuing statements of "severe repercussions" during the summer should Putin carried on blocking ceasefire talks, Trump eventually introduced major penalties on the Russian primary petroleum corporations, Lukoil and Rosneft. This decision substantially hindered Putin's ability to fund his war effort in Ukraine.

But, through his latest detailed peace initiative for Ukraine, that was developed by both nations' representatives without Ukraine's or EU involvement, the former president has clearly gone back to his pro-Putin position.

Favoring Aggression

Trump's initiative would essentially benefit the Russian leader for occupying Ukraine while putting the country's democratic system in jeopardy. Although strong proclamations that "The nation's sovereignty will be affirmed", large portions of the plan effectively undermine that essential sovereignty. Seen as a Moscow's wish would certainly be a catastrophe for the nation.

Showing his corporate experience, the former president seems to consider the war as a mere land disagreement, like handing Russia a part of Ukrainian soil will satisfy the ruler. However, Putin's invasion is not merely about controlling a destroyed region of deindustrialized area in the Donbas region. Rather, it is about the nation's democracy – and the Russian leader's clear intention to eliminate it so it stops serves as an attractive standard for the Russian people of the democratic government that Putin's growing authoritarian rule prevents them.

Land Giveaways

Although keeping in position the currently split Ukrainian provinces of these areas, the initiative would force Ukraine to give up the entire this eastern territory. Beyond rewarding Russia with land that its forces have been unsuccessful to occupy in more than a decade of conflict, this surrender would render Ukraine's defenses severely compromised.

The area is the place of the nation's much-vaunted "defensive line", the entrenched protective structures that constitute a essential impediment to enemy progress. Trump would have Ukraine abandon these defenses, leaving Russian forces a unobstructed way to Kyiv should he eventually decide to restart the conflict.

Armed Forces Reductions

Furthermore, in a action that would enable future hostilities more feasible for the Russian military, the plan would require Ukraine to cut the size of its troops from their existing large number personnel to a limit of six hundred thousand. Notably, the proposal places no similar limits on Russia's military.

Seemingly as a gesture to Russia's efforts to characterize Ukraine's chosen by the people government as radicals, the proposal asserts: "Every radical doctrine and activities must be opposed and banned." Seemingly to emphasize this aspect, it demands that "Ukraine will hold elections in three months" of a peace deal. Meanwhile, the proposal places no condition that Putin jeopardize his dictatorship by allowing democratic processes in Russia.

Protection Guarantees

To be sure, the plan has Russia pledge not to "enter neighboring countries" and to "enshrine in regulation its policy of peaceful relations towards European nations and the Ukrainian people". Yet considering that the Russian leadership has violated equivalent agreements in the history – for example the 1994 Budapest memorandum, in which the Russian government promised to recognize the nation's borders in exchange for surrendering its historical atomic arms, and the previous peace deals, in which Russia promised to a ceasefire and a restoration of seized land in the region to Ukrainian control – how should the international community have confidence in Putin now?

That is why Ukraine has been so adamant on international security guarantees. While the proposal promises a "strong joint defense action" if Russia resume its invasion, and includes that "Ukraine will receive dependable protection assurances", the particulars vary from vague to troubling. The proposal would not only prevent Ukraine accession to NATO but also prevent alliance nations from stationing military personnel on Ukrainian territory, thereby precluding the peacekeeping contingent, presumptively led by European powers, on which Ukraine had been relying to prevent Putin from replenishing his diminished forces, restocking, and resuming aggression.

World Response

Another supplementary accord reportedly would provide Ukraine with a Nato-style protection assurance, in which any subsequent "serious, intentional, and ongoing military assault" by the Russian Federation on the country "will be treated as an act of war endangering the peace and security of the Western nations." That suggests a armed reaction. Yet unlike a strong national defense – the nation's most reliable deterrent against renewed hostilities – the effectiveness of the parallel accord would hinge on the commitment of Nato leaders, including the US administration, to react with force to Russia's attacks, an action they have {not