'They won't do that': Trump rejected Vance's proposal to deploy Indian peacekeepers in Ukraine, says new book

A newly released book detailing the inner workings of Donald Trump’s second administration has revealed a behind-the-scenes disagreement over Ukraine strategy between the President and Vice President JD Vance.

The book, titled Regime Change and published on June 23, claims that during a high-level Oval Office meeting on January 30, 2025, just ten days after Trump's second inauguration, Vice President Vance floated the idea of deploying Indian or Saudi Arabian troops to act as peacekeepers in Ukraine. But Trump reportedly shut down the proposal immediately, chuckling and stating, "The Indians won't do that. They won't pay for something like that."

The 'America first' peace plan blueprint

According to the authors, the discussion took place during a meeting convened by retired Army Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, whom Trump appointed as the special presidential envoy for Ukraine and Russia. The purpose of the meeting was to establish the "commander's intent" for ending the war.

Retired Army Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg presented a draft proposal titled "An America First Plan: Trump's Historic Peace Deal for Russia-Ukraine War" during the meeting. The plan envisioned a ceasefire framework under which the United States would refrain from formally recognising Russia's claims over occupied Ukrainian territory, while Ukraine would agree not to attempt to reclaim those areas through military force.

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A key element of the proposal involved deploying foreign troops to monitor and enforce the ceasefire. Kellogg's draft suggested that European countries, including France, Britain and the Netherlands, could contribute peacekeeping forces on the ground in Ukraine.

According to the book, that aspect of the plan drew objections from Vice President JD Vance. He reportedly argued that stationing troops from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) member states inside Ukraine could be viewed by Moscow as a major provocation, potentially escalating tensions and increasing the risk of a broader conflict that could eventually pull the United States deeper into the war.

Also read | Trump tells Putin it's 'critical' to end the war in Ukraine as he pushes for peace talks

'Indians won't pay for something like that'

Seeking alternatives to a peacekeeping force drawn from members of Nato, Vance reportedly asked National Security Advisor Michael Waltz whether troops from countries outside Europe could be deployed to oversee a ceasefire in Ukraine. After Waltz agreed that a non-European contingent would be preferable, Vance suggested India and Saudi Arabia as potential contributors to the mission.

Trump’s reaction, as recorded in the book, was characteristically blunt. Despite noting that he maintained a great relationship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, remarking that Modi "really liked him and wanted to visit," Trump dismissed the idea of India contributing forces.

"Prime Minister Modi really liked him and wanted to visit, Trump said, but the Indians do not ever pay for anything," the book states, with Trump reiterating that "they won't pay for something like that."

Trump noted he had no fundamental objection if the UK or France wanted to send their own troops to monitor the zone, provided the U.S. was shielded from any financial or military involvement.

Beyond the specific disagreement over India's involvement, Regime Change paints a picture of an administration deeply skeptical of Ukrainian leadership and heavily reliant on Trump’s instincts.

During the presentation, Trump repeatedly interrupted Kellogg to criticise Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, calling him a "bad negotiator" who had "destroyed his country" but was "really good at getting stuff from the Biden administration." Trump also allegedly referred to Ukraine as "the most corrupt country in the world."

Also read | Russia accuses US of breaking Alaska summit understandings as Ukraine strikes intensify

Crucially, the book highlights how Trump's second term operates with a tight circle of deniability. Trump explicitly barred Kellogg's transition team from making any contact with Russian officials, telling them, "Nobody on your team can talk to these people, because we're working a deal."

The authors note that Kellogg was left entirely in the dark about who "we" referred to, suggesting Trump had already quietly delegated the actual negotiations to an unrevealed third party, trusting his own gut over formal bureaucratic channels.

The White House has not yet officially commented on the book's claims.