WASHINGTON, June 25: Two key advisers to Donald Trump have presented him with a plan to end Russias war in Ukraine - if he wins the presidential election - that involves telling Ukraine it will only get more U.S. weapons if it enters into peace talks.
The United States would at the same time warn Moscow that any refusal to negotiate would result in increased U.S. support for Ukraine, retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, one of Trumps national security advisers, said in an interview.
Under the plan drawn up by Kellogg and Fred Fleitz, who both served as chiefs of staff in Trumps National Security Council during his 2017-2021 presidency, there would be a ceasefire based on prevailing battle lines during peace talks.
They have presented their strategy to Trump, and the former president responded favorably, Fleitz said. "Im not claiming he agreed with it or agreed with every word of it, but we were pleased to get the feedback we did," he said. However, Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung said only statements made by Trump or authorized members of his campaign should be deemed official.
The strategy outlined by Kellogg and Fleitz is the most detailed plan yet by associates of Trump, who has said he could quickly settle the war in Ukraine if he beats President Joe Biden in the Nov. 5 election, though he has not discussed specifics.
The proposal would mark a big shift in the U.S. position on the war and would face opposition from European allies and within Trumps own Republican Party.
The Kremlin said that any peace plan proposed by a possible future Trump administration would have to reflect the reality on the ground but that Russian President Vladimir Putin remained open to talks.
"The value of any plan lies in the nuances and in taking into account the real state of affairs on the ground," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Reuters.
"President Putin has repeatedly said that Russia has been and remains open to negotiations, taking into account the real state of affairs on the ground," he said. "We remain open to negotiations."
Ukraines foreign ministry did not respond to requests for comment on the plan.
The core elements of the plan were outlined in a publicly available research paper published by the "America First Policy Institute," a Trump-friendly think tank where Kellogg and Fleitz hold leadership positions.
Kellogg said it would be crucial to get Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table quickly if Trump wins the election.
"We tell the Ukrainians, Youve got to come to the table, and if you don come to the table, support from the United States will dry up," he said. "And you tell Putin, Hes got to come to the table and if you don come to the table, then well give Ukrainians everything they need to kill you in the field." —REUTERS
