We were quick to push back against those who criticized President Donald Trump’s initial peace plan for ending the Russian/Ukrainian war earlier in the year. It maintained Ukrainian sovereignty for the land it still controlled, while allowing the invaded nation to beef up its infrastructure and military forces at the same time the U.S. would gain a foothold in Ukraine through a mineral rights package.
We were critical of those suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome, who were just opposed to anything that Trump would propose. They were naively suggesting that simply giving more arms to Ukraine would give them the ability to push the Russians out of Eastern Ukraine.
It wasn’t realistic, which is why the original Trump plan had promise. It was such a good plan that the Russians said no.
But now, it’s looking like the Trump administration’s zeal to get any peace plan passed is resulting in the signing off on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal that would cede to Russia property it hasn’t won on the battlefield, while committing Ukraine to half the size of its military force, thereby making itself vulnerable for a future Russian attack, which will likely come when Trump is no longer in office. It would also forbid Ukrainian entrance into NATO.
This plan is terrible and must be rejected. Trump’s support for this Russian proposal and the pressure he’s placing on Ukraine to accept it lends credence to those who claim his real interest is just being able to say that he’s ended an eighth war in his tenure, thereby heightening his claim for the Nobel prize.
What’s ironic, however, is that one of the core principles of Trump‘s Art of the Deal is to walk away from the negotiating table when the deal is a lousy one.
That’s not what he’s doing here. It does appear that he’s blinded by the goal of just having peace for the sake of peace.
It sounds rather Chamberlain-esque to us.