By Redaccion
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Former President Donald Trump on Sunday called for an immediate cease-fire in Russia’s war with Ukraine and signaled the possibility of withdrawing the United States from NATO during his second term if allies fail to meet their financial commitments.
Cease-fire Proposal
Trump’s proposal for a cease-fire followed a weekend meeting in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump claimed Ukraine was open to negotiating an end to the war, now more than 1,000 days long.
“There should be an immediate ceasefire, and negotiations should begin,” Trump wrote. “Too many lives are being needlessly wasted, too many families destroyed.” He called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to take action to end the conflict.
The Kremlin responded that it remains open to talks, while Zelenskyy underscored the importance of a durable peace agreement. In a Sunday post on Telegram, Zelenskyy stated, “When we talk about an effective peace with Russia, we must first of all discuss robust guarantees. Ukrainians want peace more than anyone else. Russia brought war to our land.”
Zelenskyy described his meeting with Trump and Macron as “constructive” but stressed that any peace deal must ensure long-term security and stability.
Ukraine and Russia Respond
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated Moscow’s longstanding position that it is open to negotiations but pointed to a decree signed by Zelenskyy in October 2022 declaring talks impossible while Putin remains in power. That decree followed Moscow’s annexation of four Ukrainian regions—a move widely condemned by Kyiv and its Western allies as a blatant violation of Ukrainian sovereignty.
For its part, Kyiv has maintained that peace talks hinge on Russia’s full withdrawal from Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, which was annexed by Moscow in 2014.
In a separate update, Zelenskyy disclosed that Ukraine has lost approximately 43,000 soldiers since Russia’s full-scale invasion began on Feb. 24, 2022, with an additional 370,000 wounded. Both Russia and Ukraine have been reluctant to release official casualty figures. Western officials, however, estimate that tens of thousands have been killed or injured on both sides in recent months of intense fighting in eastern Ukraine.
Reaction to Trump’s Comments
Trump’s call for an immediate truce marks an escalation in his previous rhetoric. While he has consistently advocated for ending the conflict quickly, Sunday’s remarks appeared more urgent. The responses from both Kyiv and Moscow underscore the seriousness with which the proposal was taken.
The Biden administration, along with other supporters of Ukraine, has avoided pressuring Kyiv into an immediate cease-fire. Western officials argue that any premature deal could force Ukraine into unfavorable concessions and allow Russia to regroup and renew hostilities.
NATO Warning
In a separate development, Trump reiterated his long-standing criticism of NATO and hinted at a potential U.S. withdrawal during his second term. Speaking in an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press, which aired Sunday, Trump warned that continued U.S. participation in the Western military alliance is not guaranteed.
“If they’re paying their bills, and if I think they’re treating us fairly, the answer is absolutely I’d stay with NATO,” Trump said. However, when pressed on whether he would consider pulling the U.S. out if those conditions were not met, he replied, “Absolutely. Yeah, absolutely.”
Trump has often accused European and Canadian allies of relying disproportionately on U.S. military spending. While NATO officials note that many member states have increased their defense budgets—partly in response to Trump’s demands during his first term—the former president argues that the burden remains uneven.
Potential Global Implications
Trump’s comments on NATO have reignited concerns among U.S. allies about the future of the alliance, which has played a central role in responding to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. Critics warn that a U.S. withdrawal could embolden Moscow and undermine collective security in Europe.
Meanwhile, his push for a cease-fire in Ukraine raises questions about how a potential Trump administration would approach the conflict. While some view his remarks as a pragmatic call for diplomacy, others caution that they could signal a shift in U.S. policy that might weaken Ukraine’s position in negotiations.
As Trump prepares for his return to the White House, his foreign policy statements are likely to remain under close scrutiny, with significant implications for both Ukraine and NATO.
