At *Foreign Affairs,* former US Ambassador to Russia [Michael McFaul](https://www.hoover.org/profiles/michael-mcfaul) argues that the incoming Trump administration can end the war in Ukraine by convincing Kyiv to trade land for membership in the NATO alliance. McFaul stresses that “Only such a compromise will produce a permanent peace.” While acknowledging that the incoming commander in chief has previously expressed skepticism for increasing security commitments to Ukraine, he proposes, “Trump could explain to the American people that Ukraine’s membership in NATO would allow the United States to spend less on European defense and free up resources to contain China’s growing influence in the Asia-Pacific region.” Containing other recommendations, such as utilizing Ukrainian troops to replace American forces as frontline defenders of Europe, McFaul’s compromise argument is sure to spark discussion and debate in capitals from Washington to Brussels to Kyiv. In the piece, McFaul also addresses some of the most likely criticisms of his proposal, such as the claim that NATO expansion would prove unduly provocative to Putin’s Russian Federation.
CLCchampion on
This whole plan hinges on getting every single NATO nation on board with voting to admit Ukraine, without Putin knowing about it. Obviously the elephant in the room is Hungary, which the article addresses by saying that Trump has “tremendous political capital to wield” over Orban, but what is this political capital? Maybe Orban votes to admit Ukraine, but do we really think he’s not going to leak the plans?
And I’d think that if Trump did this, Russia isn’t going to take it laying down. I’d think Georgia would be in Russia’s crosshairs, but also disinformation ops would be ramped up.
And do we even think this is realistic given Trump’s thoughts on NATO?
nwone77 on
By whispering to poot in ear: our bosses said that’s enough killing for now
3 Comments
At *Foreign Affairs,* former US Ambassador to Russia [Michael McFaul](https://www.hoover.org/profiles/michael-mcfaul) argues that the incoming Trump administration can end the war in Ukraine by convincing Kyiv to trade land for membership in the NATO alliance. McFaul stresses that “Only such a compromise will produce a permanent peace.” While acknowledging that the incoming commander in chief has previously expressed skepticism for increasing security commitments to Ukraine, he proposes, “Trump could explain to the American people that Ukraine’s membership in NATO would allow the United States to spend less on European defense and free up resources to contain China’s growing influence in the Asia-Pacific region.” Containing other recommendations, such as utilizing Ukrainian troops to replace American forces as frontline defenders of Europe, McFaul’s compromise argument is sure to spark discussion and debate in capitals from Washington to Brussels to Kyiv. In the piece, McFaul also addresses some of the most likely criticisms of his proposal, such as the claim that NATO expansion would prove unduly provocative to Putin’s Russian Federation.
This whole plan hinges on getting every single NATO nation on board with voting to admit Ukraine, without Putin knowing about it. Obviously the elephant in the room is Hungary, which the article addresses by saying that Trump has “tremendous political capital to wield” over Orban, but what is this political capital? Maybe Orban votes to admit Ukraine, but do we really think he’s not going to leak the plans?
And I’d think that if Trump did this, Russia isn’t going to take it laying down. I’d think Georgia would be in Russia’s crosshairs, but also disinformation ops would be ramped up.
And do we even think this is realistic given Trump’s thoughts on NATO?
By whispering to poot in ear: our bosses said that’s enough killing for now