US President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for National Security Adviser, Mike Waltz, has laid out the incoming administration’s strategy for addressing the Ukraine conflict. He said the Trump team will begin working on negotiations from the very first day of Trump’s term, which begins on January 20.
Speaking on Fox News on Sunday, Waltz emphasized that a key priority will be organizing talks between Russia and Ukraine, with the aim of bringing both sides together to negotiate a ceasefire or peace agreement. “We need to discuss who is at this table, whether it will be an agreement, a truce, how to put both sides at the negotiating table, and then what is the scope of the deal,” he said.
Waltz, a congressman from Florida, also highlighted the importance of involving America’s European allies in the process. “All our allies and partners need to bear this burden,” he stated, stressing that the conflict’s resolution will require international cooperation.
Trump has repeatedly promised to end the conflict, and has voiced concerns over its escalating nature, especially following the increased use of advanced weaponry. Waltz noted that recent decisions, such as President Joe Biden’s approval of Kiev’s missile strikes deep inside Russia, have led to more intense fighting. He described the situation as an “absolute meat grinder” for those at the front.
As a retired colonel and someone seen as an expert on national security threats, Waltz expressed confidence that the Trump administration would work swiftly to restore deterrence and bring an end to the conflict.
“We need to bring this to a responsible end. We need to restore deterrence and peace, prevent this escalation later, instead of reacting to it,” he said.
While Trump has committed to ending the fighting, skepticism remains in both the US and Russia. Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota has questioned the viability of direct negotiations between Moscow and Kiev.
Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has also firmly rejected any suggestion of territorial concessions to Russia and vowed not to formally give up any land.
Waltz’s comments come amid rising tensions, with Moscow responding to the new US missile authorization for Ukraine by launching its own advanced new missile called the Oreshnik.
The Trump administration’s peace plan will likely be front and center once he takes office, with the expectation that America’s NATO colleagues will also play a critical role in any negotiations. Waltz stressed that foreign nations will not be able to exploit the leadership change from Biden to Trump. “We are hand in glove,” he said, reaffirming a united front during the transition.