In the race for the presidency, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have starkly different views on the war in Ukraine. Harris aligns herself with the Biden administration’s policies, advocating for continued economic actions against Russia and ongoing U.S. security assistance to Ukraine. On the other hand, Trump criticizes these policies, suggesting that they risk war between Russia and NATO and proposing himself as a peace broker to reintegrate Russia with the West.
Both candidates have made broad statements about their visions for resolving the conflict but have provided few details on how they would achieve it. Geopolitical analyst Sam Kessler explains that these divergent stances stem from two different foreign policy philosophies: Biden and Harris adopt a Cold War mindset seeking to degrade Russia through proxy war in Ukraine, while Trump takes a realpolitik approach focused on dealing with U.S. capabilities and reorienting towards China.
Harris emphasizes her commitment to defending Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity by supporting its defense efforts through a 50-nation support network. She rejects any suggestions of ceding land to Russia as dangerous and unacceptable.
Trump, however, sees Russia’s nuclear arsenal as a significant factor shaping his approach to the conflict. He believes that negotiations with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are crucial in ending the war before it escalates into something catastrophic.
While Harris may escalate tensions by continuing support for Ukraine’s fight against Russia, Trump aims to seek compromise with Moscow while focusing on confronting China. However, negotiating peace in Ukraine may prove challenging due to interconnected conflicts involving Russia, China, and Iran.
Ultimately, finding a long-term peaceful solution depends on whether Putin can be persuaded away from his growing dependence on China and embrace European normative relations once again.
A Harris administration would likely stress-test international security protocols due to increased volatility worldwide caused by escalating tensions with Russia. Conversely, a second Trump administration would prioritize preserving national security interests by swiftly ending conflicts like those in Ukraine that distract from confronting global challenges posed by communist China.