Trump turned down Vance's proposal for India-led Ukraine peacekeeping force, reveals new book
The book further claims Trump pointed to his personal rapport with PM Modi but remained unconvinced that India would participate in such a mission.
A newly released book on Donald Trump's second presidency has revealed an unusual White House discussion in which US Vice President JD Vance reportedly suggested that India could be part of a peacekeeping force in Ukraine; only for President Trump to immediately dismiss the idea.
According to Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump, authored by New York Times journalists Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, the exchange took place during a high-level Oval Office meeting in January 2025 as senior administration officials debated possible pathways to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
The account offers a rare glimpse into internal deliberations within the Trump administration and highlights how India briefly featured in discussions over a potential post-war security arrangement in Ukraine.
The book says the meeting was convened by retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, whom Trump had appointed as his special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg reportedly presented a draft framework for ending the conflict, including proposals for a ceasefire and an international monitoring mechanism.
One version of the plan involved deploying foreign troops to oversee a ceasefire line and help enforce any eventual settlement between Moscow and Kyiv.
According to the authors, Vice President Vance raised concerns about relying on troops from NATO countries, arguing that a European military presence inside Ukraine could be viewed by Russia as a provocation and risk escalating tensions.
Seeking alternatives, Vance reportedly asked whether countries outside Europe could take on such a role. During the discussion, he suggested nations such as India and Saudi Arabia as possible contributors to a peacekeeping force.
The proposal was met with scepticism from Trump, the book claims.
According to the authors, Trump laughed off the suggestion and said, "The Indians won't do that. They won't pay for something like that."
The book further claims Trump pointed to his personal rapport with Prime Minister Narendra Modi but remained unconvinced that India would participate in such a mission. He allegedly remarked that PM Modi liked him and wanted to visit, before adding that India would be unlikely to bear the costs or responsibilities associated with a peacekeeping deployment.
The comments, if accurately reported, reflect Trump's long-standing emphasis on burden-sharing and his preference for limiting direct American financial and military commitments overseas.
The meeting reportedly took place just days after Trump's second inauguration as officials sought to define a strategy for ending Europe's largest war since World War II.
According to the book, Kellogg's proposal envisaged a ceasefire under which the United States would stop short of formally recognising Russia's territorial gains while Ukraine would refrain from attempting to retake occupied territory through military means.
The plan also explored the possibility of an international monitoring force to supervise the implementation of any settlement.
Trump reportedly made clear during the discussions that he did not want the United States drawn into a long-term security commitment and was reluctant to support arrangements that could expose Washington to future military obligations.
India has consistently maintained a carefully balanced position on the Russia-Ukraine conflict since it began in 2022.
New Delhi has repeatedly called for dialogue and diplomacy while avoiding direct involvement in the conflict. India has also maintained strategic ties with Russia even as it deepened cooperation with the U.S. and Western partners.
Security analysts have long viewed the deployment of Indian troops to Ukraine as highly unlikely given India's traditional reluctance to participate in military missions that could place it between major powers in an active geopolitical dispute.
While India is one of the world's largest contributors to United Nations peacekeeping operations, deployments are typically undertaken under UN mandates rather than as part of ad hoc security arrangements negotiated by individual countries.
Beyond the India reference, the book portrays a Trump administration deeply divided over how to approach the war.
The authors claim Trump frequently expressed frustration with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during internal discussions and questioned the scale of US support provided to Kyiv.
The revelations come as Washington continues to search for a durable framework to end the conflict, with debates over security guarantees, territorial control and peacekeeping mechanisms remaining central to any future settlement.
