Donald Trump promised during the last campaign that he would have peace in Ukraine on his first day in office. Now, eleven months later, that peace still seems very far away.
Trump has tried several times to end the Russia-Ukraine war and failed. His latest attempt was a 28 point plan that he demanded Ukraine accept. Sadly, it was so bad that Putin himself couldn't a written a plan more favorable to Russia. The plan was unacceptable to Ukraine (and its European allies) and has been changed. Now it is unacceptable to Russia.
The crazy thing is that peace is possible in Ukraine, but Trump has been going about it all wrong. He has been favoring Russia and pressuring Ukraine. That's just the opposite of what needs to be done.
Trump seems to think that Ukraine is on a path to defeat while Russia is in a strong position. Neither is true. Ukraine is fighting for its life, and cannot give up or surrender. And Russia is in a weaker position than the media would have us believe.
The truth is that in the last two years Russia has only increased it control of Ukrainian territory by a scant 1% - and it has cost them 200,000 dead and wounded soldiers to do that. And while Russia keeps bombing Ukraine on a daily basis, Ukraine (with long-range drones) is hitting Russia back on a daily basis. And while Ukraine can't surrender, it remains to be seen how long Russia can continue the war with the costs it is incurring.
Instead of pressuring Ukraine, Trump should be putting some real pressure on Russia. After all, it is Russia that invaded Ukraine.
Trump has threatened severe economic sanctions on Russia and to give Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, but backed off both when Putin praised him (played him!). He needs to follow through on both of those things - and more. He needs to make it clear that the U.S. will continue to give Ukraine all the weaponry it needs, and then threaten to accept Ukraine into NATO (and the European Union).
Russia is hurting. And some real pressure on them would make all the difference. Putin might finally realize they cannot continue a war they cannot win.
Sadly, Trump won't do that. He will be continued to be outsmarted by Putin. And he will continue to fail in his efforts for a "peace" plan. He's just not smart enough to know who America's real friends are - and who its enemies are.
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