Trump's Ideas on Ukraine to Be More Favorable to Moscow than Kiev: US Expert

Islam Times - US President-elect Donald Trump will indeed try to improve relations with Russia, and his proposals to resolve the Ukrainian conflict will rather benefit Moscow than Kiev, a US political scientist said.

"My guess is that former/future President Trump will try to improve relations with Russia," Michael Desch, Director of the Notre Dame International Security Center (NDISC) in the US State of Indiana, said in an interview with TASS.

"His [Trump’s] first priority will likely be winding down the Ukraine war," Desch, who also serves as a Professor of International Relations at the University of Notre Dame, continued.

"Given the current status quo on the ground, the settlement is likely to favor Russia more than Ukraine," he added.

Trump's running mate, future US Vice President James David Vance also commented in mid-September on the Ukrainian conflict settlement. He said at that time that Trump's plan could include a guarantee of Ukraine's neutrality, in other words the country’s refusal to join NATO and other Western "allied institutions." Trump himself repeatedly asserted in recent months that he would be able to achieve a quick resolution to the Ukrainian conflict, however, he did not disclose any details.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump defeated Harris, the Democratic Party’s contender, in the November 5 election. The Republican Party also took control of the Senate and is also expected to gain a majority in the House of Representatives. Trump’s inauguration is set for January 20, 2025.

Current President Joe Biden was supposed to be the Democratic Party’s candidate but after his failed performance at a televised debate with Trump, calls among Democrats intensified for Biden to withdraw from the race.

On July 21, he announced his decision to drop out and support Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee for US president. Trump is the Republican presidential candidate in the election.