Ukraine War Peace Talks

Peter Zeihan 6 min

The current peace plan guarantees a multi-theater war if implemented because it ignores Russian strategic goals. The best outcome is a failed deal leading to ongoing weapons transfers and assistance.

  • Donald Trump
  • Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Chapters

  1. 0:42

    Trump's Indifference to Peace Deal Details

    Donald Trump wants a peace deal but ignores details, threatening countries when they push back.

  2. 1:07

    Steve Witkoff's Lack of Negotiation Skills

    Steve Witkoff knows nothing about negotiation or foreign affairs and refuses to learn. Witkoff meets only with Russians, absorbs their propaganda, and presents it as a peace plan.

  3. 2:10

    Ukraine's New Security Plan

    Ukraine proposes a NATO-style guarantee with individual countries instead of joining the alliance. Russia aims to push its Western periphery back to defensible geographic areas including Finland and Latvia. Involving the US directly risks a third war where Russia uses nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles.

  4. 3:50

    Best Outcome is Continued Support

    The best outcome for the US is a failed deal leading to ongoing weapons transfers and assistance.

  5. 5:38

    Need for New Chief Negotiator

    The current cycle of screaming and no real change requires a new chief negotiator for Ukraine.

Key points

  • 0:42

    Donald Trump wants a peace deal but really doesn't care at all about the details.

  • 1:07

    Steve Witkoff knows nothing about negotiation and nothing about foreign affairs.

  • 1:07

    Witkoff absorbs Russian propaganda when meeting only with Moscow officials.

  • 2:10

    Ukraine proposes a NATO-style guarantee with individual countries instead of joining the alliance.

  • 2:10

    Russia aims to push its Western periphery back to defensible geographic areas.

  • 3:50

    The best outcome for the US is a failed deal leading to continued support.

  • 5:38

    A new chief negotiator is needed to break the cycle of screaming and no real change.

Who and where

People · 2

  • Drawing of Donald Trump

    Donald Trump 8

    President of the United States (2017–2021; since 2025)

    Photo 1

  • Drawing of Volodymyr Zelenskyy

    Volodymyr Zelenskyy 3

    President of Ukraine since 2019

    Photo 2

1. Photo: Daniel Torok, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons · Wikidata · redrawn in our house style (Donald Trump)

2. Photo: Press Service of the President of Ukraine, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons · Wikidata · redrawn in our house style (Volodymyr Zelenskyy)

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