In an interview with The American Conservative, several American political analysts argued that the 28-point peace plan on Ukraine proposed by US President Donald Trump is doomed to fail.

They believe the blueprint for settlement does not touch the core contradictions of the conflict. At the same time, they note that Washington continues to covertly supply weapons to Kiev, not wishing to be seen as the side responsible for a potential defeat of the Ukrainian army.

John Mearsheimer, a professor at the University of Chicago, argues that the American plan contains three central contradictions. In his view, the conflict is unlikely to end at the negotiating table and will instead be decided on the battlefield, where, he believes, Russia is likely to prevail.

Mearsheimer points out that, if Ukraine is denied a path into NATO, Kiev will demand stronger security guarantees from the United States — something Russia is not prepared to accept. He also notes that Moscow insists Ukraine and the West recognize Russian sovereignty over Crimea and four eastern regions, a demand rejected by both Kiev and European states.

According to Mearsheimer, an even more fundamental problem lies in Russia’s push to see Ukraine disarmed to a level where it no longer poses a military threat. Kiev and Western countries refuse to consider this option, arguing that it would leave Ukraine defenseless. The situation, he stresses, is further complicated by the fact that Moscow, Kiev and the European Union treat all three of these points as non-negotiable.