British troops could possibly be ordered to implement buffer zone in Trump plan | Politics | News | EUROtoday

British troops could possibly be ordered to implement a buffer zone alongside the Ukrainian frontline, beneath peace plans being thought of by Donald Trump.

The incoming US President is alleged to have advised his group European armies ought to patrol an 800-mile stretch of jap Ukraine after the present battle traces are frozen and the battle ended.

In change, the US would give Ukrainian troops weapons to discourage Russia from restarting the battle.

Many throughout the continent concern Mr Trump’s re-election will result in a halt in American navy support.

A member of Mr Trump’s group advised the Wall Street Journal: “We can do training and other support but the barrel of the gun is going to be European. We are not sending American men and women to uphold peace in Ukraine.

“And we aren’t paying for it. Get the Poles, Germans, British and French to do it.”

Sources in the US said Trump is considering calling for the current frontline to be frozen and Ukraine agree not to try join NATO for 20 years.

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin on Thursday congratulated Mr Trump on his election victory and said Moscow was ready to talk to him over resolving the war in Ukraine.

Putin added that what Mr Trump had said “about the desire to restore relations with Russia, to help end the Ukrainian crisis, in my opinion, deserves attention at least.”

Addressing the Valdai Discussion Club in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi, Putin said he hoped to see his country’s relations with the US “restored” but that the ball was in Washington’s court.

But former Chancellor George Osborne said it was not realistic for the UK to keep backing Ukraine without US support following Trump’s victory.

“Is it realistic to expect a complete victory for Ukraine, the complete ejection of Russia from Ukrainian territory? And if it’s not, you know, it may suit our vanity in the West to say ‘plucky Ukrainians’, [but] it’s not our children who are dying,” the former chancellor said.

“It’s also totally unrealistic, in my view, to think that Europe alone, including the UK, can go on supporting Ukraine without the support of the United States, even though Joe Biden actually is rushing to spend the $61 billion that Congress recently voted in terms of American aid for Ukraine before he leaves office.”

Sir Keir on Thursday told European allies they must now “step up” and help Ukraine amid fears American military aid could be halted.

The Prime Minister told the European Political Community meeting in Budapest, Hungary, that the UK’s support was “ironclad”.

President Trump has said he wants to end the war “inside a day” but has not set out the specifics of how this would be achieved, with some interpreting this to mean a peace deal on terms favourable to Moscow.

Meeting Mr Zelensky one-to-one on the fringes of the event in Budapest, Sir Keir said: “As , our assist for Ukraine is unwavering.

“And I strongly believe that not only should it be unwavering, but we need to step up, and I was very pleased to be able to say that (today).

“It’s crucial that we see this by. It’s crucial that we stand with you.”

The Ukrainian leader replied: “We’re very grateful. We’re very proud that we’ve got such bilateral relations between our nations.

“Thank you for sticking with us all through this tough period.”