New National Security Adviser Waltz Pledges to Bring Ukraine Conflict to a ‘Responsible Conclusion’
‘We need to restore deterrence, restore peace, and get ahead of this escalation ladder,’ Waltz said Sunday.
President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for his national security advisor, Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.), expressed his desire for the incoming administration to bring the Russia–Ukraine war to a “responsible end.”
Recent reports indicate that Washington has authorized Ukraine’s military to use U.S.-made missiles to strike Russian territory and has agreed to supply Kyiv with landmines, marking an escalation in the war.
Additionally, Russia responded by firing an experimental missile known as “Oreshnik,” initially believed to be a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile. This missile is a newly produced, intermediate-range hypersonic missile.
As a former special forces officer, Waltz emphasized Trump’s clarity on the need to end the conflict between the two countries, which began in February 2022. Both the United States and NATO have provided the Kyiv government with significant resources since the war started.
“What we need to be discussing is who’s at that table, whether it’s an agreement, an armistice, how to get both sides to the table, and then what’s the framework of a deal?” Waltz added.
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During the Sunday interview, Waltz likened the Ukraine conflict to “World War I trench warfare,” highlighting the intense nature of the situation.
Throughout the 2024 campaign, Trump pledged to end the conflict within days of taking office if reelected. He also criticized the significant aid provided to Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of addressing domestic issues like illegal immigration and high inflation.
The Biden administration has assured a smooth transition to the incoming Trump administration, with a commitment to continue providing approved aid to Ukraine.
Waltz revealed that he had discussions with outgoing Biden national security adviser Jake Sullivan, warning adversaries against taking advantage of the transition period before Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025.
“For our adversaries out there that think this is a time of opportunity that they can play one administration off the other, they’re wrong. … We are hand in glove,” he stated.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has firmly opposed ceding land to Russia, including Crimea and the Donbas region. He emphasized the importance of maintaining U.S. funding to avoid defeat.
Following last week’s escalation, which coincided with reports of North Korean troops entering Russia’s Kursk region, Russian President Vladimir Putin cautioned that the conflict was heading towards a global scale but refrained from nuclear threats.
After Trump’s victory, Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed readiness to discuss Ukraine with Trump and reiterated that the military operation’s goals remain unchanged.
“All this concerns the security interests of our country, the security interests of the Russian people living there,” Peskov stated on Nov. 8. “Therefore, there was no talk of any changes here.”
Reuters contributed to this report.
