On Sunday, U.S. President-elect Trump, who recently met Zelensky in Paris, took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to demand an immediate Ukraine ceasefire. He called the conflict “madness” and urged all sides to begin peace negotiations without delay.
In his post, Trump said, “Zelensky and Ukraine would like to make a deal and stop the madness. There should be an immediate ceasefire and negotiations should begin.” Trump also emphasized the need for Russian President Vladimir Putin to act, stating, “I know Vladimir well. This is his time to act. China can help. The world is waiting!”
While the former president pledged during his campaign to bring an end to the war before his inauguration, he has yet to present a concrete peace plan. However, his comments suggest a vision where major global players like China might play a mediating role.
Zelensky’s Conditions for Peace and The Kremlin’s Stance
President Zelensky welcomed the idea of peace but stressed that any ceasefire must come with robust guarantees to ensure long-term stability. Speaking on X, he said, “When we talk about effective peace with Russia, we must first and foremost talk about effective guarantees for peace. Ukrainians want peace more than anyone else.”
Zelensky argued that a ceasefire “cannot simply end with a piece of paper and a few signatures,” pointing to Russia’s previous violations of agreements.
He insisted that any peace framework must address key issues such as the restoration of Ukrainian sovereignty and security against further aggression. According to Zelensky, Ukraine has suffered significant human losses, with 43,000 soldiers killed and 370,000 wounded since the start of the war.
He also reaffirmed Ukraine’s commitment to its independence, stating, “We must guarantee the reliability of peace and not turn a blind eye to occupation.” For Ukraine, this includes assurances that Russia will not retain control of occupied territories and an acknowledgment of Ukraine's right to join NATO.
The Kremlin, through spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, responded to Trump’s comments by reiterating its willingness to negotiate—but only on its terms. Peskov referenced the preliminary agreements discussed during the Istanbul talks in 2022 as a potential foundation for peace talks. However, he emphasized that any agreement must reflect the current realities on the battlefield, where Russia maintains partial control over four Ukrainian regions.
The Way Forward
While Trump’s call for a Ukraine ceasefire has rekindled global hopes for peace, the path forward remains filled with challenges. Both sides remain deep in their positions.
Ukraine insists on reclaiming its sovereignty and securing NATO membership, while Russia seeks to consolidate its territorial gains and prevent Ukraine’s alignment with Western military alliances.
The international community, including potential mediators like China and France, may play a key role in brokering peace. Trump has also hinted at leveraging global powers to facilitate talks, although it remains unclear how aligned his team is on specific proposals. His recently appointed special envoy for Russia-Ukraine relations, retired General Keith Kellogg, has floated ideas like delaying Ukraine’s NATO membership and offering security guarantees to both sides.
The question now is: will the Trump peace plan bring meaningful progress, or will the positions of Ukraine and Russia prolong the suffering? Only time will tell.