Pentagon Press Secretary Pat Ryder responded to information about the “peace plan” of US President-elect Donald Trump’s advisors reported by The Wall Street Journal, which includes the creation of a buffer zone in Ukraine. According to Ryder, he does not want to speculate or make assumptions about the plans of the next administration, according to the US Department of Defense.
During the US elections, Trump repeatedly claimed he could end the war “in 24 hours,” but details of his plan have been scarce. Recent reports suggest his approach may involve freezing the war along current front lines and establishing a demilitarized zone, pressuring Ukraine to make territory concessions, and delaying NATO membership for at least 20 years.
“We’re very focused on, as I highlighted earlier, on the situation at hand right now and frequent communication with our Ukrainian counterparts to ensure they have what they need to defend themselves from Russian aggression,” Ryder stressed during a briefing.
The US military spokesperson emphasized that US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has repeatedly stated that Ukraine’s security is important not only for European countries but also for America.
He also noted “strong bipartisan support for Ukraine.” Ryder added that the US will continue to communicate closely with its partners and allies.
“We’re going to continue to be focused on the task at hand right now, which is helping Ukraine defend itself from Russian aggression. But as for what the future might portend, I’m just not going to speculate or get into hypotheticals,” said the Pentagon representative.
Earlier, Newsweek said the idea of creating the buffer zone is controversial because Russian leader Vladimir Putin is likely to use it as a frontline for the next invasion of Ukraine.
Related:
- The Telegraph: Trump eyes 1,000-km buffer zone in Ukraine, guarded by EU and British forces
- Biden: NATO allies split over Ukraine’s long-range strikes inside Russia
- ISW: West may underestimate benefits of long-range strikes for Ukraine
