There is very little more dangerous to European-American interests right now than the war in Ukraine and what it represents regarding an unbridled Putin tossing around the Russian military into possible NATO countries. But Russian forces have indeed been surprised by getting beaten back (And relatively easily) in so many ways. They were supposed to be in Kyiv within three days of the invasion. Instead, the armies are nearly bedded down in various parts of the country while some areas remain almost “stable” in comparison. That the war now appears to be at a stalemate brings about the perfect time – a new administration – to end the matter. The problem is that one wonders whether the Trump administration is ready to hold Putin accountable. At least Trump is talking to Putin.
According to a new post on Truth Social, Trump just got off a phone call with the Russian ruler. It is Putin who decided to invade without any provocation and it is Putin who should be made to pull out with virtually no gains, no reward for the invasion, no reason to think that he doesn’t have total agency in this matter, and bares the responsibility for ending it. According to Trump’s post (In part):
But first, as we both agreed, we want to stop the millions of deaths taking place in the War with Russia/Ukraine. President Putin even used my very strong Campaign motto of, “COMMON SENSE.” We both believe very strongly in it.
We agreed to work together, very closely, including visiting each other’s Nations. We have also agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately, and we will begin by calling President Zelenskyy, of Ukraine, to inform him of the conversation, something which I will be doing right now.
Well, okay. Despite getting all kinds of grief about it around here, I am willing to give him some leeway on international issues where politics is supposed to stop at the border. Additionally, the fact of the matter is that the American President should be involved in brokering a peace no matter who it is, so it’s good that he’s addressing it. Again, one just wonders whether it will do much good if the message isn’t “Get the hell out, now – and no, you can’t ‘keep” anything. You did this, you can end this… ” Which is what the message really should be. You don’t just go around and invade other countries because you want their sh*t.
I have asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of the CIA John Ratcliffe, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, and Ambassador and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, to lead the negotiations which, I feel strongly, will be successful.
Millions of people have died in a War that would not have happened if I were President, but it did happen, so it must end. No more lives should be lost!
Okay, he gets leeway right up until he says something wholly offensive, which is what happens when claiming that the invasion wouldn’t have happened had he been president. Even if it were somehow true in an alternative universe, it is of no utility to promote oneself now when the focus should be on the one that really could have ensured that the war “would not have happened.” – Putin. Before Trump turns to any American, much less the former president, he needs singular focus on Putin, lest he sound as though he loves Putin more than the previous American presidents, especially when it’s Putin who is the clear war mongerer.
I want to thank President Putin for his time and effort with respect to this call, and for the release, yesterday, of Marc Fogel, a wonderful man that I personally greeted last night at the White House. I believe this effort will lead to a successful conclusion, hopefully soon!
Fine, whatever. It sure seems like the least Putin could do. Literally, the bare least he can do. Trump should talk about the benefit of the release of the prisoner but also note that Putin did this while doing so.
So this is where things stand. Trump appears to be focused on the right things internationally but then becomes wholly off-putting and of a dubious position when getting down to specifics. It would be near a crime if Putin were to significantly gain by invading and being the proximate cause of all said deaths. It would teach Putin nothing more than to invade at will. The Trump administration seems like it can be counted on to find someone else to blame.
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First of all, everyone has to remember this war is over control of UKRAINE! They have a democratically elected leader and government. Neither Trump or Putin is the elected leader of Ukraine. Zelenskyy is and ANY negotiation over ending this war needs to include HIM at every step of the way. Ukraine has come a long way since this war began. Yes, they’ve been reliant on western aid from humanitarian aid to weapons. They still need weapons from artillery shells to sophisticated things like launchers, armored vechicles and aircraft. Yet they’ve also learned to manufacture an increasing amount of what they need themselves.
They also have a population that except for the far eastern slice of the country hates Russia and ALWAYS has. If Russia thought Afghanistan was bad they have only gotten a taste of how bad things would be if they ‘controlled’ much of Ukraine.
You are quite correct Jason. The only message Trump SHOULD convey to Putin is ‘You started this now end it. You failed and you and your country aren’t going to win. Let’s meet with Zelenskyy and any allies he cares to include in the discussion and work out a withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine. And then deal with establishing a stable and lasting peace and issues of reparations for the unprovoked war YOU started, return of Ukrainian children you kidnapped to their families in Ukraine, and other matters.’
Of course that’s not at all what Trump said to Pootie. He will gladly give Pootie the whole of Ukraine and it won’t take much beyond flattery for Trump to try to GIVE Ukraine to him. My guess is finally fulfilling Trumpty’s decades old dream and slapping up a Trump Tower, Moscow. Tall and close to so anyone in Red Square looking that direction can see the name Trump in painted gold letters up there in the skyline. The funny part is that if Pootie were to outlive Trumpty those letters would come down before Trump fat dead ass was cold on the embalming table!
NATO isn’t about to let Putin and Russia have anything resembling a “win” in Ukraine including keeping all that territory along the Black Sea. This is going to get ugly.
Maybe Trump should’ve at least pretended to have done the right thing and call President Zelenskyy IMMEDIATELY after this alleged call with Putin before posting to his little Amerikanskaya Pravda Sotsial’nyy.
A *REAL* American President, interested in ending the war, should tell Putin that the ONLY acceptable outcome for Putin and Russia will be a restoration of trade agreements and an end to all sanctions that have been placed on the country since PUTIN invaded Ukraine. The borders are to return to their 2010 lines (meaning, yes, Russia renounces its claim to Crimea–if Putin wants a guarantee of a Black Sea naval port, he can NEGOTIATE an agreement with Ukraine) and that Russia has NO say in Ukrainian foreign affairs. If Ukraine wants to pursue membership in the EU and/or NATO, then Ukraine can do so and if Russia has problems, well, then Russia sends diplomats to talk things out but Ukrainian foreign policy issues are an exclusively Ukrainian matter.
Unfortunately, we’re stuck with Tonald Drumpf in the White House.