Trump to Ukraine: Surrender or Else!
In August, President Donald Trump met Vladimir Putin in Alaska and endorsed the Russian’s “peace plan” to end the war in Ukraine. Putin’s proposal would mean abject surrender for Ukraine, as I explained in my article, Surprise! Trump is Selling Ukraine Down the River (August 25, 2025). The mainstream press and media had the same reaction and criticized Trump’s fawning behavior toward Putin as a national embarrassment.
Three months later, nothing has changed. Trump is acting as though he is Putin’s agent, putting huge pressure on Ukraine to accept defeat. Administration officials released a 28-point plan that seemed to reflect the Kremlin’s talking points. Several provisions read as though they had been translated from Russian, according to Timothy Snyder, an expert on Russia and Ukraine at the University of Toronto.
Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that he had to accept the plan within a week…or else. The President of the United States has been acting like a sleazy landlord trying to force a desperate tenant to sign a bad lease: take it or leave it!
The terms are so draconian that Zelensky should reject the deal. He runs the risk that Trump will cut off intelligence-sharing or refuse to sell key weapons that Ukraine needs, such as Patriot air-defense systems or long-range missiles. But if Zelensky accepts this one-sided proposal, he runs an even greater risk: Russia could conquer all of his country.
Sabotaging Ukraine
The President and his advisors could have used the last 90 days to strengthen the Ukrainians’ position by increasing or accelerating shipments of weapons. Instead, Trump has refused to provide new arms, unless NATO allies pay for them. The President has imposed new sanctions on the Russians. However, he has also continued to cast doubt on Ukraine’s ability to fend off Russian troops.
Worst of all, instead of consulting with President Zelensky and his team, Trump has excluded them--and our NATO allies--from the discussions. This approach has sabotaged Zelensky, infuriated the Europeans and encouraged the Russians.
Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner drafted the plan over the last four weeks. Witkoff is Trump’s lead negotiator on Ukraine. Kushner is not a government official; he is a private citizen. They are real estate investors, not seasoned diplomats who know the history between Russia and Ukraine. Nor are they military experts who understand the terrain. Secretary of State Marco Rubio played only a minor role in crafting the plan, it appears.
However, Witkoff and Kushner did seek input from Kirill Dmitriev, a Kremlin insider. They met with him in Miami a month ago. That’s shocking.
Vladimir Putin and his BFF/photo: Getty Images
With An Ally Like This…
Trump is making the same mistake he did in Afghanistan. He negotiated with the Taliban and, at their request, shut the Afghan government out of the talks. Trump gave in to critical Taliban demands, which the Afghan officials would have rejected. He paved the way for the swift collapse of the Kabul regime.
Nonetheless, in a true display of chutzpah, Trump has demanded that the Ukrainians show more gratitude.
For what? Trump’s reluctance to say that Putin started the war? The President’s refusal to provide more assistance to Kyiv…unless NATO allies pay for the weapons? His demands that Ukraine share the profits from its sales of rare earth minerals?
With an ally like this, who needs enemies?
Abandoning Key Defenses
The Trump plan is extremely one-sided; almost all the 28 points favor Russia over Ukraine. And several provisions would drastically undermine Ukraine’s ability to defend itself.
Russia would not just keep the regions that it has conquered. Ukraine would also have to hand over the Dombas territories that it still controls. This would be a crippling blow, because these areas are heavily fortified. That’s one reason why Russian troops have not been able to conquer them. Experts have estimated that it could take Russia another one to four years, and massive casualties, to seize this terrain.
Conversely, if Ukraine gives up these areas, Russian troops might be able to overwhelm Ukrainian troops and sweep into other parts of the country.
Another Appeasement
This is reminiscent of Britain and France’s appeasement of Adolf Hitler in 1938. They agreed to his demands that the Czechs give up the northern part of their country, the Sudetenland, and turn it over to Germany.
Hitler claimed that he wanted to protect German-speaking Czechs, just as Putin says he wants to help Russian-speaking Ukrainians. But as the Czechs argued, Hitler really wanted the Sudetenland because it contained their crucial defense installations. After the Czechs lost control over the Sudetenland, they could no longer defend themselves, and they surrendered to the Germans.
In addition to their fortifications, the areas of the Dombas under Ukrainian rule are rich in minerals. Ukraine needs these resources for its own industries and for making money by exporting them.
Finally, Zelensky does not want to abandon the 200,000 Ukrainians who live in these areas. Life has been grim for Ukrainians who remained in districts that Russia has occupied since its invasion in 2022. The Russians have imposed Russian citizenship and tried to obliterate any traces of Ukrainian history and culture. Many Ukrainians in the occupied territories have disappeared, seized by Russian secret police.
Cutting the Armed Forces
Under another absurd provision, Ukraine would have to slash its armed forces by one-third, to 600,000 soldiers from 900,000. This would be unilateral disarmament; Russia would not have to reduce the size of its troops in Ukraine or Russia. Western experts estimate that Moscow has deployed 600-700,000 soldiers in Ukraine. The Russian forces are better equipped, so Kyiv needs to have more boots on the ground to mount an adequate defense.
Ukraine could not use long-range missiles, under the plan. Its military has recently used these weapons to great effect, damaging a significant percentage of Russia’s oil-refining capacity. This has hampered Russia’s oil exports, reducing its ability to finance its war machine.
No NATO Troops in Ukraine
Realistically, no ceasefire will hold in Ukraine unless non-Russian troops serve as a “trip wire” along the front between Russian and Ukrainian forces. Otherwise, Russian troops could quickly launch more attacks. As a logistical matter, it would be relatively easy for NATO troops to perform this function, since several members of the alliance share a border with Ukraine. Not surprisingly, Putin has adamantly rejected any such role for NATO troops.
The Russians have long complained that NATO has expanded, threatening them. The far-right in the US has parroted this propaganda line. The reality is that Poland, the Baltic States and other East European nations have joined NATO to deter Russia from attacking them. NATO is a defensive organization, not an aggressive one.
As a compromise, Ukraine could agree not to seek NATO membership for 10 to 15 years. Trying to join NATO now would be a provocative step. In any event, since 2008 the US and its NATO allies have discouraged any talk of admitting Ukraine.
Elections Within 100 Days
The plan would require Ukraine to hold elections within 100 days. This would violate the country’s sovereignty and its laws, which prohibit holding elections during wartime. The Russians presumably hope to influence any such elections, using their finely honed disinformation campaigns to throw Zelensky out of office and install a friendly regime.
They may also assume that now is an opportune time to challenge Zelensky politically. His popularity has waned because of a corruption scandal in Kyiv that has ensnared some of his associates--but not Zelensky himself.
A Protection Racket
The plan includes some provisions that seem intended to enrich or buy off the US in a crass, commercial fashion. It’s not clear whether the Russians or money-grubbing Americans came up with these ideas.
Ukraine would pay the US to provide a security guarantee…which is not described in any detail and seems to lack teeth. This looks like a protection racket, pure and simple, which would further tarnish the US’ reputation as a reliable ally.
Letting Russia Off the Hook
When the war broke out, the European Union seized and froze about $300 billion of Russian assets. The US and the EU have been debating how to use these funds to rebuild Ukraine. There has not been any discussion of returning these assets to Russia. The cost to repair the war’s damage to Ukraine is estimated to be at least $500 billion.
The plan proposes that one-third of those assets would be invested in reconstructing Ukraine…with 50% of the profits going to the US. This seems like a sop to Trump, who the Russians know is always looking to make a buck. But why should the US, rather than Ukraine, benefit from these funds?
Under the plan, the Europeans would contribute $100 billion to redevelop Ukraine, out of their own funds. However, the Europeans have provided more aid to Ukraine than the US has. Why should they, and not the Americans, be obligated to donate another $100 billion to Ukraine?
Finally, the EU would return $200 billion—two-thirds--of the frozen assets to Russia. But why should Russia recoup those assets? Experts have estimated that it will cost at least $500 billion to repair the damage Russia has inflicted on Ukraine. A fair plan would require Russia to forfeit all $300 billion of its frozen assets and contribute another $200 billion to rebuild Ukraine.
On the Wrong Side
It is shameful that the United States, a democratic nation, is siding with a fascist dictator who has invaded a peaceful neighbor. If this “peace plan” is adopted, the likely result is that Russia will ultimately conquer Ukraine …and eventually try to subjugate other East European countries as well.
There is only one slightly silver lining in this dark situation. The plan is so one-sided that it would be eminently reasonable for Ukraine to reject it.
There are two possible grounds for hope. The European nations might rise to the challenge and significantly increase their support for Ukraine. They don’t want to let the wolf (or Russian bear) in the door.
Furthermore, about 70% of Americans support helping Ukraine, and they won’t like Trump’s crass, craven plan. As the midterms approach, public opinion might lead some Republicans in Congress to lobby Trump about resuming aid to Ukraine.
Of course, the midterms will take place a long twelve months from now, and time may not be on Ukraine’s side.
The Wall Street Democrat