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Initially, Trump gave the impression to adopt a firm approach concerning the Ukrainian conflict. After delivering threats of "significant consequences" during the summer should Russia's president continued hindering ceasefire talks, Trump ultimately introduced major penalties on the Russian primary petroleum corporations, these major energy companies. This move seriously affected the Russian leader's capability to support his military invasion in Ukraine.

However, with his newly presented 28-point peace initiative for Ukraine, that was drafted by US and Russian representatives excluding Ukraine's or EU input, the former president has clearly returned to his Russia-friendly stance.

Rewarding Aggression

The former president's initiative would in practice reward the Russian leader for occupying a sovereign nation while leaving Ukraine's democratic system in peril. Despite ringing proclamations that "The nation's autonomy will be affirmed", much of the plan effectively compromise that very autonomy. What represents a Moscow's wish would certainly be a disaster for Ukraine.

Showing his business experience, Trump seems to consider the Ukrainian conflict as a mere border issue, like giving Putin a section of Ukrainian territory will please the leader. But, Russia's war is not only about occupying a destroyed area of deindustrialized area in Ukraine's east. Rather, it is about the nation's democracy – and the Russian leader's clear goal to eliminate it so it stops functions as an enticing model for the Russian citizens of the democratic government that Putin's deepening dictatorship withholds them.

Border Concessions

While freezing in position the currently separated Ukrainian provinces of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, the proposal would force Ukraine to give up the whole this eastern territory. Aside from rewarding the Russian Federation with area that its troops have been unable to seize in exceeding a decade of fighting, this giveaway would make Ukraine's military defenses dangerously compromised.

This region is the site of Ukraine's well-known "fortress belt", the fortified defensive positions that constitute a essential impediment to invading forces. The proposal would have Ukraine leave these positions, providing Putin a clear path to the capital in case he subsequently choose to restart the hostilities.

Defense Reductions

Then, in a move that would enable renewed fighting more feasible for the Russian military, Trump would force Ukraine to reduce the scale of its troops from their present 800,000 to 850,000 soldiers to a cap of six hundred thousand. Importantly, Trump's plan sets no equivalent constraints on the invading army.

Seemingly as a accommodation to Putin's attempts to portray the nation's legitimate government as Nazis, Trump's proposal asserts: "Any radical ideology and actions must be rejected and banned." Seemingly to underscore this aspect, it demands that "Ukraine will hold elections in 100 days" of a truce. Meanwhile, the proposal places no requirement that the Russian leader endanger his dictatorship by allowing elections in his own country.

Security Assurances

Admittedly, the proposal has Russia pledge not to "attack neighboring countries" and to "enshrine in regulation its stance of peaceful relations towards European nations and Ukraine". However given that the Russian leadership has broken similar agreements in the past – including the Budapest accord, in which Russia committed to respect Ukraine's sovereignty in exchange for relinquishing its former Soviet nuclear arsenal, and the 2014-2015 Minsk agreements, in which Russia promised to a ceasefire and a return of occupied territory in eastern Ukraine to Ukrainian control – why should the international community trust Russia on this occasion?

For this reason Ukraine has been so adamant on international protection assurances. Although the initiative threatens a "immediate joint defense action" should Russia restart its aggression, and provides that "Ukraine will receive dependable protection assurances", the particulars vary from fuzzy to concerning. The plan would not only prevent the nation accession to NATO but also preclude Nato members from positioning military personnel on the nation's land, thereby precluding the security presence, likely headed by the UK and France, on which Ukraine had been relying to prevent Russia from replenishing his weakened forces, rearming, and resuming aggression.

Global Concern

Another parallel deal reportedly would provide the nation with a Nato-style defense commitment, in which any future "serious, intentional, and ongoing armed attack" by the Russian Federation on Ukraine "would be considered as an attack jeopardizing the stability and safety of the allied countries." This implies a military response. But in contrast to a powerful Ukraine's armed forces – the nation's primary defense against renewed hostilities – the success of the parallel accord would hinge on the commitment of Nato leaders, including the US administration, to act through arms to Russia's hostilities, something they have {not