In classic Trump fashion, big promises are back on the menu—this time, it’s peace in Ukraine.
During the Easter Egg Roll on the White House lawn, President Donald Trump dropped a political egg of his own, telling reporters he plans to unveil a detailed Ukraine peace proposal in the coming days. The plan, still under wraps, is already stirring up buzz, skepticism, and cautious optimism from D.C. to Donetsk.
“We had very good meetings on Ukraine, Russia… We will see how that works,” Trump said Monday, his signature ambiguity intact. But behind the vagueness is a plan the administration claims could change the game.
According to reports from the New York Post, the plan might involve deploying Western European troops to Ukraine—after a ceasefire is reached—to help maintain peace. The so-called "resiliency force" would serve as part of the security guarantees Ukraine is reportedly requesting.
While the full details are still under wraps, insiders suggest that the plan includes some ambitious (and potentially controversial) ideas. One of them? A peacekeeping “joint commission” involving not just Ukrainians and Russians, but a third, non-NATO country to act as a neutral player.
As for the U.S. role? It’s likely to be financial, not military. “Not boots on the ground, but the monetary force,” said one senior administration official. In other words, Uncle Sam might bankroll the effort, but won’t be suiting up.
Another rumored element is bound to raise eyebrows: Ukraine possibly recognizing Crimea as officially part of Russia. That’s a major sticking point—not just for Ukraine, but for Russia, which is also demanding recognition of Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye as Russian territories.
No surprise then that Moscow is pushing back hard on parts of the proposal—especially the idea of Western troops in Ukraine. For the Kremlin, any peace deal that doesn’t address NATO’s eastward creep and Ukraine’s flirtation with the alliance is a non-starter.
Meanwhile, on the Ukrainian side, there’s no appetite for territorial concessions. Kiev remains firm in its stance: no deals that cede land to Moscow.
Add to that Russia’s UN envoy Vassily Nebenzia, who just last week said a full ceasefire is “simply unrealistic at this stage,” accusing the West of using peace talks as a smokescreen to funnel more weapons into Ukraine.
So, what’s the endgame here? Trump seems to believe there’s a window for peace, maybe even this week. Others aren’t so sure. Whether this plan becomes a path to resolution or just more political theater remains to be seen. But if Trump pulls it off, it could mark a rare diplomatic win in an increasingly entrenched and brutal war.
One thing’s for sure: the world will be watching when those “full details” drop.
Stay tuned.
