If you're wondering what Donald Trump's game plan is for ending the Russia-Ukraine war, you're not alone. Former national security adviser John Bolton says the whole thing is a mystery wrapped in chaos.

Bolton Unloads on Trump's Peace Push

Bolton didn't mince words on Sunday when he renewed his criticism of Trump's 28-point peace proposal. Writing on X, he said: "What precipitated the latest effort to produce a Russia-Ukraine agreement remains a mystery. What is not mysterious is how typically Trumpian it is, featuring incoherent strategy, haphazard negotiations, and ignorance of facts on the ground."

The post accompanied an op-ed Bolton wrote for the UK's Telegraph on Saturday, where he argued that U.S. policy on Ukraine under Trump has "descended into chaos." According to Bolton, the administration keeps wrapping this chaos in sales-pitch optimism about an "imminent deal" that doesn't actually exist.

In his Telegraph column, Bolton said he believes a leaked phone call between Trump ally Steve Witkoff and Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov is authentic. More importantly, he thinks it shows Witkoff working in Moscow's interests rather than acting as a neutral mediator.

A Take-It-Or-Leave-It Offer

Bolton's take on the proposal? It's essentially an ultimatum to Ukraine: accept Trump's plan or, as he put it, "continue to fight his little heart out." With U.S. officials reportedly warning Kyiv that defeat could be imminent, Bolton argues Ukraine is being shoved toward giving up borders and territory from a position of weakness.

The Trump administration sees things differently. They've defended the framework as a realistic way to stop the bloodshed, allow Ukraine to pursue European Union membership, and secure a cease-fire. Senator Marco Rubio has said ending the war will require "difficult but necessary concessions" from both sides. European officials, however, have been less diplomatic, condemning the draft as a "Kremlin's wish list."

A Broader Pattern With Autocrats

Bolton isn't just worried about Ukraine. He drew a connection to Trump's recent moves on China and Taiwan, arguing that Trump's deference to Moscow mirrors his approach to Beijing. He pointed to reports that Trump urged Japan's new prime minister to walk back comments on Taiwan as evidence of this pattern.

This isn't the first time Bolton has raised alarms about Trump's motivations. He previously warned that Trump "wants to make any deal he can, and claim a Nobel Peace Prize," and suggested the president is reluctant to impose tougher sanctions on Russia if they might derail negotiations.