National Security Adviser Mike Waltz discussed foreign policy under President Donald Trump in a recent appearance on Fox News's My View with Lara Trump, saying that bringing the Russia-Ukraine War "is not going to be easy" as negotiations continue.
With a ceasefire coming into effect, Waltz described the difficulty in getting just to that point, saying, "President Trump fully appreciates how tough this is, how dug in both sides can be, but he also understands their interests, and it is not in anyone's interest."
"We hear the critics out there and a lot of chirping going on, but what is their alternative? Years and years and years of more war? People need to understand this is World War I-style trench warfare, and to what end? And that is what President Trump asked over and over on the campaign trail," Waltz continued.
At the end of February, Trump sat down with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to negotiate a peace plan. The meeting ended with the two arguing about the United States' role in the war. Zelenskyy later relented and agreed to a 30-day ceasefire in March, only for Russia to reject the initial proposal.
However, Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call that ended with the Russians agreeing to a modified ceasefire proposal.
My View host Lara Trump asked Waltz for details about the upcoming ceasefire during her interview with him, where he said drone and missile strikes targeting energy infrastructure must stop.
"One day, these will all have to be rebuilt. Let's have that first step of pulling back and pulling down that violence, exchanging prisoners as a good faith first effort," Waltz said, adding that maritime trade will become the next priority, as "Both countries sit on the Black Sea. They have to trade oil, gas, and grain to literally feed their people and others. That will be the next step."
Waltz concluded that the so-called "Line of Control," seemingly referring to territorial demands, will be the most difficult aspect of future negotiations as efforts to conclude the war continue.
