Trump Moves to Put Ukraine Peace Deal Back on Track

May 6—While spokesmen for the U.S. State Department insist that the United States should withdraw from its mediation role in negotiating peace between Ukraine and Russia to end NATO’s war against Russia in Ukraine, President Donald Trump and his Special Envoy Steve Witkoff "are thinking outside the box" to get negotiations back on track, sources report.

"They see it was a mistake to introduce the question of borders, and that Ukraine should formally accept Russian control over Crimea as part of a framework for the deal," said a source. "That gave [NATO-backed Ukrainian dictator Volodymyr] Zelenskyy a chance to throw his hissy fit and say Ukraine would not yield one inch of its territory to the Russian aggressor. They were doing that to induce Russia to come to the table and negotiate during a 30-day ceasefire, which Ukraine has already accepted."

"But Russia has already accepted the idea of negotiations, without any preconditions," said a source close to the White House. "It is part of Putin’s offer of a three-day ceasefire from May 7-10 [announced April 28 to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany, which includes Moscow’s Victory Day celebrations on May 9]. So, Trump has decided to push Zelenskyy to accept the offer of the ceasefire. If it holds, then Trump and Witkoff will back its extension for another 30 days to allow for direct negotiations to take place between Russia and Ukraine, with the U.S. mediating. So, Zelenskyy gets his 30-day ceasefire, and Trump can report that he has stopped the slaughter."

This shift in strategy was signaled by Trump’s remarks yesterday in the Oval Office to reporters, in which he said that Putin’s call for the Victory Day truce was a significant step toward a peace settlement.

"As you know, President Putin just announced a three-day ceasefire, which doesn’t sound like much, but it’s a lot if you know where we started from," Trump told reporters. "I think Russia, with the price of oil right now—oil’s gone down—I think we’re in a good position to settle. They want to settle; Ukraine wants to settle. If I weren’t president, nobody would be settling."

Zelenskyy, who had dismissed Putin’s proposal as a "theatrical performance," was reportedly caught off guard by Trump’s remarks. He has since been briefed by Trump’s team, including his envoy for the Ukraine peace negotiations, Gen. Keith Kellogg.

"Zelenskyy has been listening to people in the State Department, who were threatening to pull out of the U.S. mediation role," said a source. "He would be better served to listen to the White House and the President. The President still has plays to make here."

As for the framework around which direct talks would be structured, the ceasefire would be full-stop, in place. Russia would eventually withdraw from areas outside the four eastern oblasts, which it now considers part of Russia; Ukraine would also withdraw troops from those areas. Ukraine will be allowed to join the EU, but it cannot be part of NATO in any form.

Something new that Trump and Witkoff have been exploring is an emphasis on preservation and restoration of cultural and historical landmarks, including many damaged and destroyed churches. This would become a focal point of the massive reconstruction plans that will need to be developed, with the United States contributing significant financial resources from both public and private sources.

The status of Crimea, as well as the eastern oblasts, will be discussed directly between the parties, and may result in a de facto acceptance of the current realities on the ground. The deal will not restore these territories to Ukraine. Trump has made this clear, stating, "Crimea was lost in 2014 and it should have been dealt with then. It cannot be dealt with now."

"It will take some time to work all these things through," said the source. "And this will have to include the multinational peacekeeping force—how big will it be, who will comprise it, how long will it serve? Zelenskyy is extremely paranoid that Putin will restart the war after Trump leaves office. Witkoff and Trump believe Putin when he says he has no desire to do that and wants the war ended for good. NATO can’t accept this. Putin—the aggressor, the threat to all of Europe—gives them a reason to exist. In reality, they have no reason to exist."

Sources believe the Trump team can bring Ukraine and Russia into agreement on this new plan, which is why Trump continues to assert that a peace deal is possible and could happen soon.