Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko (L) welcomes his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin prior to the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) summit in Minsk on November 30, 2017. A top ally of Vladimir Putin has claimed Donald Trump thinks Ukraine will “disappear from the map altogether” unless the war stops. Since returning to office at the start of the year, the US president has been pushing to resolve the conflict as soon as possible – even if it means rewarding Russia for its aggression with more land. Russia currently holds a fifth of Ukraine’s territory but, j ust last month , Trump was willing to force Ukraine to hand over more just to stop the fighting. And, according to Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, that’s because he believes the Kremlin’s claims that a Russian victory is inevitable. He told US TV NewsMax : “If Ukraine believes that it can defeat Russia and is ready to wage war, then let it fight. “From my point of view – and I believe [US President Donald] Trump shares this view – if this kind of fighting continues, Ukraine will simply disappear from the map altogether and cease to exist.” Trump claimed last week that “size will win” in the war, telling POLITICO : “Russia has the upper hand.” But experts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) have previously warned that Putin’s troops are not making much progress on the frontline at all – and they are struggling with declining resources, too. The US administration’s 28-point peace proposal for ending the conflict was leaked in November and quickly caused major consternation in Europe amid fears it was too favourable to Russia. European allies then offered more pro-Ukraine counterproposals to water down the plan, but this was rejected by the Kremlin. Kyiv has since presented an entirely new plan to the White House, and the US has promised to offer “very strong ” security guarantees to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire. However, the US is yet to reach an agreement with Ukraine over territory, as the States has suggested Ukraine withdraws from some of its land within the east to create a buffer zone with Russia. That would, in effect, hand a win to Putin. Lukashenko also suggested it would be dangerous to allow the war to continue as it is. “It will inevitably escalate into some kind of global conflict,” he said. “That is why it must be extinguished while it is still possible. There is now, as never before, such an opportunity, given that the Americans have become seriously engaged in this issue.” Related... Moscow Threatens British Soldiers In Ukraine While Nato Chief Warns: 'We Are Russia's Next Target' Here's What Is Expected To Be In Ukraine's Proposed Peace Plan Putin Is Telling Trump That Russian Victory In Ukraine Is Inevitable. Experts Know It's Not