Will Trump ask Ukraine to give up some land to end war? His campaign denies any such plans
File photo of former US president Donald Trump.
Former United States president and presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trumpon Sunday (Apr 7) dismissed a report by The Washington Post that said he could end the war in Ukraine if he becomes president by pressuring Kyiv to give up some territory. Speaking to The New York Post, a Trump campaign adviser called The Washington Post report "fake news" and insisted that the 77-year-old would not settle on a peace plan until he is in office and can properly weigh all the options.
“The whole thing is fake news from The Washington Post. They’re just making it up,” Trump adviser Jason Miller said, adding, that his boss was the only one talking about stopping the killing and President Joe Biden was talking more about killing.
What did the report say?
Citing people familiar with the matter, The Washington Post report on Sunday said that Trump could end the conflict by pressuring Ukraine to give up some territory. His proposal consistedof Ukraine ceding Crimea and the Donbas border region to Russia, people familiar with the matter said.
Trump, 77, has previously boasted that he could negotiate a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine within 24 hours if elected to power. However, he has repeatedly declined to specify publicly how he would quickly settle the war.
A source told the publication that privately Trump thinks that Russia and Ukraine “want to save face, they want a way out,” and that people in parts of Ukraine would be okay with being part of Russia.
Trump has also pressurised congressional Republicans to resist additional US support for Ukraine’s efforts to fight Russia. A return to the White House would significantly expand his influence over this debate, the report added.
'I will have the war settled in one day'
In an interview with CNN last year, Donald Trump said if he was elected as president again, hewould have that (Russia-Ukraine) war "settled in one day, 24 hours.”
Asked how, Trump said he would meet Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin. "They both have weaknesses and they both have strengths and within 24 hours that war will be settled, that war will be over," he added.
Trump has repeatedly said he is well-positioned to negotiate an end to the war, saying he has a good relationship with both Russian and Ukrainian leaders.
(With inputs from agencies)