President-elect Donald Trump might propose an 800-mile buffer zone between Russia and Ukraine to quickly resolve the ongoing conflict.
According to three of Trump’s aides, this area would be overseen by British and European forces, but not include any American troops.
This plan would allow Russia to retain its territorial gains in Ukraine, freezing the current borders. Additionally, Ukraine would have to pledge not to join NATO for two decades.
Under these proposals, the U.S. plans to supply arms to Ukraine to deter Russia from reigniting the war, while the responsibility for funding and staffing the buffer zone would lie with European allies.
“We can do training and other support but the barrel of the gun is going to be European,” a Trump staffer said to the Wall Street Journal.
“We are not sending American men and women to uphold peace in Ukraine. And we are not paying for it. Get the Poles, Germans, British and French to do it,” the staffer added.
Britain, France, and Germany have promised to back Ukraine indefinitely, yet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is firmly against ceding any territory to Putin.
Zelensky recently remarked that making concessions to Putin is “unacceptable” for his country and “suicidal for Europe.”
Tech mogul Elon Musk reportedly participated in a call between Trump and Zelensky on Wednesday.
Zelensky tweeted about calling Trump the same day, congratulating him on his “historic” victory and emphasizing the need for ongoing dialogue and cooperation. ” Strong and unwavering US leadership is vital for the world and for a just peace,” Zelensky noted.
Musk’s Starlink has provided crucial internet connectivity in Ukraine, greatly aiding the country’s military efforts since the 2022 invasion by allowing real-time communication in areas where combat has disrupted cell service.
Some U.S. officials have made their concerns known over Musk’s interactions with adversaries like Russia, but the intelligence community remains hesitant to investigate due to Musk’s American citizenship, according to CNN.
