At the Halifax International Security Forum in Nova Scotia, Canada, U.S. senators vehemently criticized a 28-point peace proposal on Ukraine, crafted by the Trump administration and the Kremlin without Ukraine’s involvement. The plan, which accommodates numerous Russian demands, including territorial concessions, was labeled as one of the most serious geopolitical errors of our time. Independent Senator Angus King of Maine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, compared the proposal to the infamous 1938 Munich Pact, a failed act of appeasement by British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain. King emphasized that the plan rewards aggression and lacks any ethical, legal, or moral justification. Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina echoed these sentiments, stating that Senate Leader Mitch McConnell’s criticism of the proposal was insufficient. Tillis described Russian President Vladimir Putin as a ‘murderer, rapist, and assassin,’ arguing that the plan should not give Putin any sense of victory. Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called the proposal an ‘outrage,’ accusing Trump of being manipulated by Putin. Despite Putin’s endorsement of the plan as a potential basis for peace, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not outright reject it but insisted on fair treatment and pledged to work calmly with Washington and other partners. The Halifax International Security Forum, now in its 17th year, typically attracts military officials, diplomats, and scholars. However, this year, the Trump administration suspended the participation of U.S. defense officials in such events. The strained relations between the U.S. and Canada, exacerbated by Trump’s trade policies and controversial remarks, have led to a significant drop in Canadian tourism to the U.S., particularly in border states like New Hampshire.
American senators rip Trump’s Ukraine peace proposal at international security conference in Canada
