With fresh wind in his sails after his success brokering a somewhat fragile peace in Gaza, Donald Trump has once again turned his attention back to Ukraine. According to reports, the US President’s team has secretly been working on drafting a new plan to end the war. Concerningly, though, once again that confidential plan is being hashed out with Russia – without any input from Ukraine or its European allies.

Details of the plan are, as yet, scant – although a report by Axios suggests that it will be made up of 28 points falling under four rough headings: peace in Ukraine, security guarantees for the country, security in Europe and a roadmap for future relations between Russia, Ukraine and America. There is no detail currently on what proposals the plan may set out for resolving the issue of who will control the illegally Russian-annexed territories in eastern Ukraine; as part of his maximalist demands for ending the conflict, Vladimir Putin has demanded full control over regions such as the Donbass. Nevertheless, what has emerged will be enough to fill Ukraine and its allies in Europe – apparently only being briefed on the plan now – with dread.

In nearly four years of war, Putin’s conditions for calling off his........

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