A report by the British Daily Mail has sparked speculation that US President Donald Trump is planning to present a peace plan to Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to the report, a ceasefire is expected to take place on April 20.
The key elements of Trump’s proposal, as reported by the Daily Mail, include the recognition of Russia’s sovereignty over the four Ukrainian regions that have been largely captured by Kiev’s military, a ban on Ukraine’s NATO membership and the rebuilding of the country through EU funding.
It is unclear whether the ban on NATO membership is intended to be permanent. According to the Daily Mail, Trump plans to continue American support for Ukraine’s military and to find a way for the country to join the EU by 2030. Trump has so far remained tight-lipped, but consistent speculation suggests that a summit between him and Putin could take place in the United Arab Emirates or Saudi Arabia.
One point in the plan that may reflect Trump’s thinking is the demand that the EU should pay for the rebuilding. According to calculations by the German Marshall Fund, this could cost up to $486 billion in the next decade.
The reported plan also includes the demand that Ukrainian troops leave the Russian region of Kursk, where they launched a counteroffensive in August. A contingent of European soldiers, possibly including British ones, will be tasked with monitoring a demilitarized zone, with American troops not being involved.
According to the Daily Mail, the talks began with a phone call between Vladimir Zelensky and Vladimir Putin in early February, followed by a meeting of the two heads of state at the end of February to early March and an official ceasefire declaration by April 20. In the coming days, it will become clear how close the reported plan is to reality.