Trump team considers creating Board of Peace for Ukraine modelled on Gaza – FT

US officials have floated the idea of expanding the Board of Peace led by US President Donald Trump to include other global flashpoints, such as Ukraine and Venezuela.

Source: Financial Times, citing informed sources

Details: The FT reported that one person familiar with the idea had said that Trump's administration views the Board of Peace "as a potential substitute for the UN... a kind of parallel unofficial body to deal with other conflicts beyond Gaza".

Diplomats said the council is expected to be presented at the World Economic Forum in Davos next week.

The proposal to broaden the council's mandate has heightened concerns about backing a Trump-controlled body that was initially intended to oversee post-war governance in the Gaza Strip.

"There is caution in the region with regards to [this idea]," one Arab diplomat said, adding that the issue had been discussed among regional officials. In his view, "this is not a normal procedure".

A US official said on Friday 16 January that planning for the Board of Peace remains focused on the Israel-Gaza conflict and, for now, does not go beyond that issue.

Trump announced in his post earlier that the council had been "formed" and that its membership – expected to include global leaders – would be announced "shortly".

Quote from the FT: "Many details of how the board will function remain unclear, including its precise make-up as well as the legal mandate with which it would act beyond the Middle East. It was formally authorised to oversee Gaza's postwar transition by a UN Security Council resolution in November."

Details: As the FT noted, reports later emerged about an expansion of the council's mandate, first reported by Haaretz. US officials said this week that invitations to potential members had been sent on Wednesday, but did not specify to whom.

The FT added that the US Department of State had declined to comment on the idea of expanding the council's role.

However, according to the FT, diplomats said US officials had proposed Venezuela – currently in turmoil following the seizure of its President Nicolás Maduro earlier this month – as a future area for the council's mediation.

Quote from the FT: "Regarding Ukraine, a senior Kyiv official involved in discussions with the US said a separate board of peace – also chaired by Trump – was an important part of the proposals to end Russia's war."

Quote from the Ukrainian official: "Currently, it is suggested that this particular board will be established particularly for the Ukraine-Russia case."

Details: The official added that the council – made up of representatives from Ukraine, Europe, NATO and Russia – would oversee and guarantee the implementation of a 20-point peace plan that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has described as "90% ready".

The official also said the US had not clarified whether this council would be subordinate to a broader body.

Quote from the Ukrainian official: "We did not discuss the idea of expansion of the scope for this board.

We believe that, at least at [this] first stage, the board shall be focused on monitoring of [this] particular peace settlement."

Background: Trump previously announced the formation of a Board of Peace to oversee post-war governance in the Gaza Strip as well as the formal move to the next stage of a 20-point peace plan for the region.

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