Trump Releases 28-Point Plan To End Russia-Ukraine War

US President Donald Trump has released his latest plan to end the Russia-Ukraine War, featuring several major points that remain controversial.

Trump and other White House officials feel that this plan is the only way to move forward with a ceasefire– while it heavily benefits Russia, satisfying almost all of their demands, Ukraine faces the risk of losing more territory if they continue to fight.

The plan entails several key points, ranging from territory-based lines to military protection. Firstly, the war would come to an immediate end, with Ukraine ceding the oblasts of Luhansk, Donetsk, and Crimea, which are already heavily Russian.

Meanwhile, Russia will give back all other territory that it has conquered, and the line dividing the two countries will be placed on the cities of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant, located along this line, will now be supervised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and power supplied by the plant will be divided equally between Russia and Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces will be limited to 600,000 people, down from their current 800,000, and NATO members will no longer be allowed to station troops in Ukraine. This will ensure greater safety for Russia to prevent incursions. On the other hand, Ukraine will be provided with a security guarantee from the United States, which they will have to remunerate for, and all sanctions will be reimposed on Russia if they invade Ukraine again.

Additionally, the plan creates a Ukraine Development Fund to assist in rebuilding the country, and the United States will help with funding, reconstruction, and modernization of current infrastructure. The plan also uses $100 billion in frozen Russian funds to rebuild Ukraine, and Europe will contribute an additional $100 billion.

Ukraine will also be required to hold elections in 100 days, addressing the recent rising concerns over current President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after a massive, $100 million embezzlement scandal among members of his inner circle.

For Russia, all sanctions will be lifted, and the US will enter negotiations to determine a long-term trade deal that could bolster both economies and bring the latest technology, like artificial intelligence and major data centers, to Russia.

Lastly, Russia will enshrine a policy of non-aggression towards the United States and Europe into law, while Ukraine will enshrine a law into its Constitution preventing it from ever joining NATO. However, the plan does make Ukraine eligible to join the European Union, which could heavily benefit them from an economic perspective.

Other points within the plan include the creation of a humanitarian committee to facilitate the exchange of all prisoners, detainees, and hostages; the implementation of cultural programs to teach children of the country about the other, preventing future racism and injustice; the protection of the Dnieper River for Ukrainian trade; and the possibility for future negotiations to safeguard free trade throughout the Black Sea.

The plan also outlines several steps that will serve as the basis for future NATO-Russia negotiations, helping to de-escalate the situation in Europe. First, Russia will be invited to rejoin the G8, a group that has since been known as the G7 since Russia's suspension in 2014 after the annexation of Crimea. Other member nations include France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. Furthermore, NATO and Russia will hold talks to discuss future cooperation.

Ukraine is yet to agree to the plan, but they have admitted that they are willing to negotiate and have acknowledged that it has potential. Russia has also expressed optimism over the plan, hinting that an end to the war may be in sight. However, Ukraine have drawn several hard lines that they continue to emphasize as they view this plan, and Russia refuses to agree to them. Due to this, while negotiations have begun, it may be some time before the final draft is confirmed.

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