Ex-Trump ambassador proposes Ukraine peace deal with autonomous zones

Richard Grenell, a former ambassador under the Trump administration who could assume a top role in a potential second term, has proposed a Ukraine peace deal aimed at preserving the country's territorial integrity while allowing for autonomous zones.

This plan, however, faces likely opposition from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who insists that Russian forces must vacate all territories seized since 2014 and during the 2022 invasion, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

"Autonomous regions can mean a lot of things to a lot of people, but you got to work through those details," Grenell stated at a Bloomberg News roundtable on the sidelines of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

Grenell, who served as Trump's ambassador to Germany and acting director of national intelligence, did not provide further details. However, the areas of eastern Ukraine previously mentioned as “autonomous” are under the control of Russian forces or Russia-backed separatists, suggesting they would likely remain so under his proposal.

Additionally, Grenell argued against Ukraine joining NATO shortly, despite Zelenskyy's strong advocacy for membership in the military alliance. He emphasized that his views are personal and that he hasn’t discussed the matter with former President Donald Trump.

However, Grenell is often considered a likely candidate for a high-ranking position should Trump be re-elected, possibly as secretary of state. His perspectives offer insight into the potential direction Trump’s administration might take.

Grenell’s stance aligns with that of JD Vance, Trump’s choice for vice president, who has urged Ukraine to adopt a defensive strategy and negotiate with Russia. Vance, in a New York Times opinion piece, expressed his opposition to the continued funding of the war by the United States, reflecting a broader skepticism within the Trump camp regarding American involvement in the conflict.

During a recent debate with President Joe Biden, Trump claimed that if re-elected, he would resolve the Ukraine conflict between election day and his inauguration, though he provided no specifics and faced pushback from both Ukrainian and Russian officials.

At a NATO meeting last week, the alliance's 32 members proposed an “irreversible” path to membership for Ukraine but without a clear timeline or details. Grenell criticized this approach, arguing that NATO should not expand until all current members meet the 2% GDP defense spending target.

“We have to be honest about whether or not we add new members to NATO,” Grenell said.

“We shouldn’t be adding new people to the club when the current club members aren’t paying their fair share.”

He also questioned the appointment of former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as NATO’s incoming secretary-general, noting the Netherlands' slow progress in meeting the 2% defense spending commitment.

“That’s kind of puzzling to me,” Grenell remarked.

“Why are we promoting somebody who didn’t do their job of getting NATO funding completely up and running in his country for years?”

More broadly, Grenell sought to dispel concerns about Trump’s approach to NATO, arguing that Trump’s insistence on increased funding demonstrated his commitment to the alliance.

“I would argue that Donald Trump obviously cares more about NATO than any other president because he’s the one that’s trying to give it more money,” Grenell asserted.

He also countered claims that US allies fear a second Trump term, suggesting that privately, many world leaders prefer Trump’s leadership.

“When I have traveled and met with other leaders, you hear something very different privately,” Grenell said.

“I’m very comfortable that we have a world that absolutely does not only not fear Trump, but they would like to see him back. NATO leaders would like to see him back.”