Trump Envoys Deliver Shock Ultimatum to Ukraine
In a dramatic escalation, envoys tied to former U.S. President Donald Trump have demanded Ukraine sign a peace deal with Russia by Thursday—or risk losing critical U.S. backing if Trump returns to power. The move has rattled Kyiv and Western allies, signaling Trump’s growing influence over U.S. foreign policy ahead of the 2024 election.
Key Demands in the Proposed Peace Deal
Sources reveal Trump’s negotiators—led by ex-National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien and former diplomat Kurt Volker—presented Ukraine with stark terms, including:
– Freezing frontlines, allowing Russia to keep occupied regions (Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia).
– Abandoning NATO membership ambitions.
– Lifting Western sanctions on Russia in exchange for vague sovereignty guarantees.
Ukrainian officials call the proposal a “surrender,” with one Zelensky aide stating, “This isn’t peace—it’s coercion.”
Trump’s Shadow Diplomacy Sparks Backlash
The ultimatum highlights Trump’s unorthodox tactics, with informal envoys bypassing official U.S. channels. While Biden continues military aid, Trump’s team pushes an opposing vision, reviving his claim that he’d “end the war in 24 hours.” Critics, like Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT), lambast the move as “reckless interference.”
Zelensky’s Impossible Choice
Ukraine faces a lose-lose scenario:
– Reject the deal: Risk alienating a potential future U.S. president.
– Accept it: Undermine two years of resistance and embolden Putin.
Publicly, Kyiv rejects concessions (“Territorial integrity is non-negotiable,” says FM Kuleba), but privately, officials fear aid cuts under Trump.
Global Reactions
- EU/NATO: Condemn “external pressure” on Ukraine.
- Russia: Calls the ultimatum a “U.S. domestic issue,” but experts note Putin stands to gain.
What’s Next?
With the Thursday deadline approaching, Zelensky may delay, betting on a Biden victory. But a Trump win could bring harsher terms. The U.S. election now directly shapes Ukraine’s survival.
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