Former national security adviser John Bolton strongly criticized President Trump’s latest proposal to end the Russia-Ukraine war, calling the 28-point plan “written from the Russian point of view.”
Bolton said on NewsNation’s “On Balance with Leland Vittert” that the agreement could not have been better drafted by Russia itself. He added, “I think it’s selling out Ukraine. And I think for everybody over the past year who said, ‘Hey, Trump’s come around, he’s going to support Ukraine,’ it has been proven that he doesn’t care about Ukraine. What he wants is a deal, and it’s part of the quest for the Nobel Peace Prize.”
The peace plan, first reported by Axios, was quietly negotiated between Trump’s team and Moscow earlier this week. It includes provisions that would place Crimea, Luhansk, and Donetsk under “de facto” Russian control, recognized by the United States, while requiring minimal concessions from Russia other than directing $100 billion in frozen Russian assets to Ukraine’s reconstruction.
U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll visited Kyiv on Thursday to discuss the plan with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Officials from the U.S., Ukraine, and several European nations are scheduled to meet in Switzerland on Sunday for further talks.
Trump said Friday that the U.S. is urging Ukraine to sign a deal by Thanksgiving. He added that Zelensky would eventually have to accept a version of the plan or continue fighting Russia. “He’ll have to like it, and if he doesn’t like it, they’ll just have to keep fighting, I guess,” Trump said in the Oval Office. “At some point, he’s going to have to accept something.”
Several Republican leaders have criticized the proposal, arguing that it would reward Russian President Vladimir Putin nearly four years after the invasion of Ukraine. Bolton echoed these concerns, warning that the treaty could signal to Russia and China that unprovoked aggression can succeed.
“This treaty rewards unprovoked aggression,” Bolton said. “If Trump is able to force Ukraine to accept this, it is a Neville Chamberlain moment. This is Munich. It sends a dangerous signal about aggression.”
Bolton added that modifications are necessary, emphasizing that the plan should be overhauled rather than adjusted lightly. “We have to hope that Zelensky and perhaps people still in Washington can convince Trump to make changes. It’s not just a tweak here or there. This thing should start over,” he said.
Bolton has been a consistent critic of Trump since leaving the first administration. Last month, a federal grand jury indicted Bolton on charges of transmitting and retaining national defense information. The case is currently moving slowly toward trial.
The Trump Ukraine peace plan has sparked debate over its fairness and potential consequences, highlighting tensions between the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia as diplomatic efforts continue.
