Trump’s Ukraine Peace Plan Mirrors Gaza Ceasefire Tactics/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump is applying the same assertive strategy he used to broker a Gaza ceasefire to try to end the Russia-Ukraine war. His 28-point plan, heavily favoring Russia, has raised alarms across Europe due to lack of input and vague terms. Though no agreement has been reached, Trump continues shuttle diplomacy through his envoys.
Trump’s Ukraine Peace Strategy Quick Looks
- Trump pushes ceasefire modeled after Gaza truce
- 28-point peace plan leans heavily toward Russian interests
- Ukraine given until Thanksgiving to respond, deadline now flexible
- European leaders excluded from discussions, raising concern
- Putin continues strikes on Ukraine, refuses to engage
- Trump envoys in talks with Russian and Ukrainian officials
- Plan asks Ukraine to give up land, restrict military
- Critics say Trump focuses on optics, not lasting peace
- Expert: Trump prioritizes image over enforceable outcomes
- White House insists Russia’s perspective must be understood
Deep Look
Trump Adapts Gaza Ceasefire Playbook for Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks
President Donald Trump is leveraging a bold and controversial strategy in his effort to end the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, drawing directly from the approach he used to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas just weeks ago. His method: a sweeping peace plan, tight deadlines, and public pressure — with little concern for the specifics of enforcement or long-term stability.
Speaking aboard Air Force One on Tuesday, Trump dismissed the importance of clear timelines, stating, “You know what the deadline is to me? When it’s over.” That attitude underscores his administration’s fast-moving and highly unilateral effort to resolve Europe’s most devastating conflict since World War II.
The push began after Trump’s high-profile appearance at the Israeli Knesset, where he was lauded for facilitating a ceasefire in Gaza. No sooner had he claimed that diplomatic win than he pivoted publicly to Ukraine, urging his team to “focus on Russia first.”
Trump’s 28-point Russia-Ukraine peace proposal quickly followed, initiated by U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who informed Russian adviser Yuri Ushakov of the plan in an Oct. 14 phone call. A leaked recording of the conversation revealed the proposal’s pro-Russia slant — a move that shocked European leaders who had been left out of the process entirely.
The original version of the plan called for Ukraine to relinquish parts of the Donbas region, drastically reduce its military capabilities, and agree to limitations on NATO and EU expansion — effectively granting Russia significant influence over Europe’s future security structure. Trump initially imposed a Thanksgiving deadline for Ukraine to accept the terms but later softened that position.
Trump admitted the plan was more “concept” than concrete, suggesting flexibility in the face of criticism and lack of traction. Still, the president has not backed off from pushing the deal through various diplomatic channels.
Despite superficial similarities to the Gaza ceasefire agreement — including peace boards, vague commitments, and an emphasis on U.S. mediation — the Russia-Ukraine situation presents deeper challenges. Unlike Israel and Hamas, who accepted Trump’s ceasefire under international pressure, Russian President Vladimir Putin has refused to make concessions.
This week, as American envoys promoted the plan, Putin launched another wave of missile attacks across Ukraine, demonstrating open defiance. Trump publicly acknowledged the difficulty of securing a deal, stating during the White House Thanksgiving turkey pardon:
“I thought it would have been an easier one, but I think we’re making progress.”
Yet even within Ukraine, doubts abound. Mariia Zolkina, a political analyst at the Kyiv-based Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation, noted in a recent column that Trump’s approach appears to prioritize optics over outcomes.
“Trump’s approach emphasizes the proclamation of a ceasefire, not its observance,” she wrote.
That concern is shared in European capitals. Leaders in Brussels and Berlin have warned that Trump’s approach risks not only sidelining key allies but also sacrificing European security for political theater.
Hannah Neumann, a member of the European Parliament from Germany, accused Trump of being “perfectly ready to sacrifice Ukraine’s security and Europe’s in the process.”
The backlash is compounded by Trump’s behind-the-scenes moves. U.S. officials confirmed that Witkoff held preliminary meetings in South Florida with Kirill Dmitriev, a Russian businessman close to Putin, to launch the peace initiative. Further meetings took place in Geneva, but no agreement has emerged.
Even as Putin remains unmoved, Trump continues to press forward. His administration is now sending Witkoff to Moscow for follow-up discussions, possibly accompanied by Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who helped negotiate the Gaza deal. Simultaneously, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian officials to promote the evolving terms of the plan.
European analysts, however, remain deeply skeptical. Fabian Zuleeg of the European Policy Centre in Brussels characterized Trump’s strategy as “naïve,” driven more by personal branding than genuine diplomacy. “In the end, the focus is solely on what Trump thinks he will get out of this in terms of reputation and money,” Zuleeg said.
Unlike the Gaza ceasefire, which included backing from regional powers like Egypt, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, the Russia-Ukraine plan lacks multilateral support. The Trump administration has portrayed the plan as balanced, claiming input from both Russia and Ukraine, but the lack of European involvement has further strained alliances.
The Trump team insists the goal is to reflect the Russian perspective, not endorse it. One senior U.S. official said the plan acknowledges that while the West often dismisses Russia’s global position, understanding Putin’s demands is essential to crafting any deal.
“It’s not for the administration to judge Putin’s positions,” the official said, “but it does have to understand them if we want to get to a deal.”
Still, critics argue the current framework essentially legitimizes Russian territorial gains while weakening Ukraine’s sovereignty. That alone could render the deal politically toxic for Kyiv and its European supporters — even if it were accepted by Moscow, which remains unlikely.
As negotiations continue, Trump is staking significant political capital on ending the war — or at least appearing to. The Nobel Peace Prize remains a potential motivator. But without buy-in from both sides, and with ongoing aggression from Moscow, the Gaza model may prove insufficient in Europe’s most explosive conflict.
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