Washington/Kyiv – Donald Trump is banking on maximum demands. His 28-point plan was intended to bring peace to Ukraine – but in reality that peace would be dictated in Russia’s interests. However: This isn’t the first time Trump’s grand plan has failed.
What is Trump as “peace plan” Sale would be tantamount to surrendering to Ukraine: Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk would be effectively recognized as Russian, Ukraine’s army would be reduced to 600,000 troops and joining NATO would be ruled out permanently.
Memories of the “Commodity Deal”
In Ukraine, Trump’s actions reminded people of the raw materials deal. In the spring, Trump put Kiev under pressure: Washington initially demanded that Ukraine pay off alleged US aid debts from the start of the war – some $500 billion!
To pay this amount, Kyiv must send its raw materials to the US. When the deal was about to be signed at the White House in February, there was a public debate between the two Donald Trump (79) and Volodymyr Zelensky (47). “You’re going to make a deal or we’re out,” Trump threatened at the time.
Ukrainian journalist Illia Ponomarenko recalls this moment.”
In the end, little remained of Trump’s demands: instead of repayment, a joint fund was created for reconstruction projects. 50 percent of future revenues from Ukrainian raw materials will be paid. New US military aid also flows into the fund as a contribution. Prior assistance is expressly excluded.
Meaning: Yang Ukraine no need to pay anything back – and the huge demand of $500 billion just disappeared!
“In the end it was just nonsense – and everyone immediately forgot about it, starting with Donald Trump himself, who jumped at the next opportunity to admire himself for two minutes in front of the television cameras,” Ilia Ponomarenko concluded.
The first signs of a change of heart
On Friday, Trump said of his 28-point plan at the White House: “He has to approve it.” And further: “At some point he had to accept something he had never accepted before.” According to the Washington Post, the US threatened to stop supporting Ukraine if Zelensky did not agree to the plan.
According to BILD information, the Chancellor attempted to contact the US President by telephone as soon as the plan became known in order to explain the European perspective. Chancellor Friedrich Merz (70) and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (63) each spoke privately with Trump.
The appeal appears to be having an impact: When asked yesterday whether the ultimatum was his final offer, Trump replied: “No.” “We are trying to end this at all costs,” he said. Representatives of the US, Ukraine and several European countries met in Geneva, Switzerland today (Sunday) to negotiate a US “peace plan” for Ukraine.
