After more than 1,000 days of war, Ukraine remains locked in a brutal struggle against relentless Russian aggression. The conflict has devastated cities, displaced millions, and left both sides far from achieving their goals. As Donald Trump prepares to take office in January, his promise to end the war within 24 hours has intensified global focus on potential peace solutions. But with starkly opposing visions from Kyiv, Moscow, and now Washington, the path to peace remains fraught with challenges.
Ukraine’s Vision
For Ukraine, this war is existential. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made clear that peace cannot come at the cost of Ukrainian sovereignty. Kyiv’s primary goal is the restoration of its pre-2014 borders, reclaiming Donetsk, Luhansk, and Crimea. Zelenskyy’s five-point victory plan includes NATO membership, unrestricted military support, economic reconstruction with allied backing, and securing Europe’s postwar stability.
“If the conflict is frozen without a strong position for Ukraine, Putin will come back in two, three, five years to destroy us completely,” Zelenskyy warned recently. His government has also proposed a broader 10-point peace framework addressing issues like nuclear safety, war crimes accountability, and withdrawal of Russian troops.
While these ideas have drawn support from allies, NATO has yet to extend a membership invitation, leaving Kyiv vulnerable to future aggression.
Russia’s Stance
For Moscow, peace means Kyiv’s capitulation. The Kremlin demands Ukraine cede occupied territories, abandon NATO aspirations, and adopt neutrality. Russian President Vladimir Putin views the war as a means to reassert regional dominance, and his government has shown no signs of compromise.
“Our goals will be achieved in one way or another,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated. Russia insists on lifting sanctions and demands that Western nations bear the cost of Ukraine’s reconstruction, further highlighting the gulf between the two sides.
Trump’s Plan
As Trump takes the reins in Washington, he has vowed to end the conflict swiftly, appointing retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg as a special envoy for peace talks. Kellogg’s proposed strategy includes pushing Ukraine and Russia to negotiate through ultimatums. Under this plan, the U.S. would condition military aid to Kyiv on participation in talks and halt NATO membership efforts in exchange for security guarantees.
Trump’s team has hinted at lifting sanctions on Russia once a peace deal is signed and suggested a tax on Russian energy exports to fund Ukraine’s reconstruction. While Moscow has expressed cautious openness to engaging with Trump, skepticism lingers. “If Kellogg brings a plan we don’t like, we’ll tell him to go away,” Russian oligarch Konstantin Malofeyev bluntly stated.
Other Proposals
Beyond Trump’s approach, additional peace ideas have emerged. China and Brazil have championed a joint plan emphasizing a ceasefire and international peace conference. Although Zelenskyy initially rejected the plan, some elements could be integrated into Ukraine’s broader strategy.
Meanwhile, Western diplomats have floated frameworks inspired by historical precedents:
- The Israel Model: Arming Ukraine heavily without formal NATO membership, though critics warn this could lead to permanent instability.
- The Germany Model: Dividing Ukraine into NATO-aligned and Russian-occupied zones, an idea Zelenskyy has cautiously entertained.
- The Finland Model: A return to neutrality akin to Finland’s Cold War-era status, an option dismissed by Finnish officials themselves as unsuitable for Ukraine.
The Path Ahead
Despite mounting international pressure, the stark differences in goals between Ukraine and Russia leave little room for compromise. Ukrainian forces remain resolute, with soldiers like Vitaly Ovcharenko calling for more weapons instead of talks. “Their only goal remains to destroy our country. We don’t have any options but to fight,” Ovcharenko said.
As Trump’s inauguration looms, his administration’s approach to the conflict will be closely watched. However, with entrenched positions on both sides, achieving peace within 24 hours—or even within months—appears an ambitious, if not impossible, goal.