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At first, the former US president appeared to take a resolute stance on Ukraine. Following delivering warnings of "serious repercussions" during the summer if Vladimir Putin continued hindering ceasefire talks, he finally introduced considerable penalties on Russia's biggest petroleum corporations, Rosneft and Lukoil. This move seriously impacted Putin's ability to support his war effort in the region.

But, with his latest 28-point peace initiative for Ukraine, which was created by American and Russian representatives lacking Ukrainian or EU input, the former president has clearly gone back to his favorable to Russia stance.

Benefiting Aggression

The former president's proposal would in practice favor Putin for attacking a sovereign nation while putting the country's political freedom in peril. Although ringing statements that "Ukraine's autonomy will be confirmed", large portions of the initiative effectively weaken that essential sovereignty. What represents a Russian ideal would likely be a catastrophe for the nation.

Showing his business past, Trump seems to consider the situation in Ukraine as a basic border issue, implying ceding Putin a section of Ukraine's soil will appease the president. But, Putin's military campaign is not only about dominating a damaged region of industrial-devastated area in Ukraine's east. It is about the nation's democracy – and Putin's clear intention to destroy it so it no longer acts as an appealing model for the Russian people of the responsible leadership that Putin's increasing authoritarian rule withholds them.

Territorial Surrenders

Although keeping in position the already separated Ukrainian provinces of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, Trump's proposal would force Ukraine to surrender the entire this eastern territory. Beyond rewarding Russia with land that its troops have been failed to occupy in more than a ten years of warfare, this giveaway would make Ukraine's defenses dangerously weakened.

The area is the site of the nation's much-vaunted "defensive line", the well-established defensive positions that are a key impediment to invading forces. The proposal would have Ukraine abandon these fortifications, leaving Russian forces a unobstructed way to Kyiv should he later decide to restart the hostilities.

Military Restrictions

Then, in a step that would facilitate additional fighting more feasible for Russia, Trump would mandate the nation to diminish the size of its military from their existing large number soldiers to a limit of six hundred thousand. Significantly, the plan sets no equivalent limits on the invading army.

Apparently as a concession to Russia's attempts to portray the nation's chosen by the people administration as radicals, Trump's proposal asserts: "Any radical ideology and activities must be condemned and prohibited." Seemingly to underscore this point, it insists that "Ukraine will hold democratic votes in three months" of a ceasefire agreement. However, Trump sets no obligation that the Russian leader risk his dictatorship by allowing democratic processes in his own country.

Defense Guarantees

To be sure, the proposal makes the Russian Federation commit not to "attack other states" and to "incorporate in law its policy of peaceful relations towards Europe and the Ukrainian people". However considering that Putin has violated equivalent accords in the past – for example the Budapest accord, in which the Russian government committed to recognize Ukraine's territorial integrity in return for relinquishing its former Soviet atomic arms, and the previous peace deals, in which Russia committed to a ceasefire and a restoration of seized land in the Donbas to the government – how should we believe this commitment now?

For this reason Ukraine has been so insistent on external defense commitments. While the plan threatens a "strong joint defense action" if Russia resume its invasion, and includes that "Ukraine will receive dependable protection assurances", the particulars range from unclear to concerning. The plan would not just block Ukraine accession to NATO but also prevent member states from deploying military personnel on Ukrainian territory, thus preventing the reassurance force, reportedly led by European powers, on which the Ukrainian government had been relying to deter Putin from rebuilding his weakened military, rearming, and reinvading.

Global Concern

A separate parallel deal apparently would provide the nation with a alliance-like security guarantee, in which any subsequent "serious, deliberate, and sustained armed attack" by Russia on the country "shall be regarded as an act of war threatening the tranquility of the transatlantic community." This indicates a defense action. Yet in contrast to a capable Ukraine's armed forces – Ukraine's primary deterrent against renewed invasion – the credibility of the parallel accord would hinge on the willingness of Western powers, including Trump, to respond militarily to Russia's hostilities, an action they have {not