President-elect Donald Trump could give Ukraine nuclear weapons to thwart Vladimir Putin’s Russia once and for all, an expert has told the Daily Express.

Mr Trump won a decisive election victory earlier this month, but his victory has raised concerns in Ukraine about what it could mean for US support in the war.

But despite fears that Mr. Trump could force Ukraine in an unwanted ceasefire deal, one expert says the outgoing president could take a different approach.

Nicholas Drummond, a security and defense expert, told the Daily Express that Mr Trump could give Ukraine nuclear weapons.

He said: “Over the next four years Russia will rearm itself, but also Ukraine will recover, rearm and prepare. This preparation could be the fact that the United States gives Ukraine nuclear weapons.

“A deal could be reached very quietly, and suddenly Ukraine becomes very powerful. Zelensky can say “we have nuclear weapons and if you attack us, we will bomb Moscow.”

“Can you imagine what that would do to Putin? This is one reason why Putin might be weary of a peace deal that doesn’t exactly match his terms.

“This could be Trump’s trump card. It might be unwise to give Ukraine on the one hand, nuclear weapons, on the other, it could restore the balance of peace and power in the region.

“The United States could say that it will give Ukraine nuclear weapons, but say you can’t join NATO. »

It remains unclear exactly what Mr. Trump intends to do in Ukraine. The Wall Street Journal reported this month that he would seek to establish a demilitarized zone between Ukraine And Russia.

Citing a source close to Mr Trump, the outlet added that the US could seek to freeze UkraineNATO’s candidacy for NATO membership for 20 years.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that the war would end more quickly with Mr. Trump in the White House.

He said the war “will end more quickly because of the policies of this team that will now run the White House.”

He continued: “We must do everything to ensure that the war ends next year through diplomatic means. »