US President Donald Trump wants peace in Ukraine, but Vladimir Putin continues to use the United States, writes The Wall Street Journal.
This indicative episode began last week when the leaders of the major European countries proposed “a complete and unconditional 30-day cessation of fire to create a space for negotiations for fair and lasting peace.” This is also the goal of Ukraine and Trump, but again Putin replied with a firm opposition.
The Russian leader responded with a proposal for direct negotiations between Ukraine and RussiaS Trump then requested Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski to accept it. On Thursday, however, Putin opposed Zelenski, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump’s special envoy Steve Whitkof. Instead, the Kremlin sent a low -level delegation similar to the one he had sent in 2022 for conversations that were not serious.
Trump, who is in the Middle East, initially stated that he could make a side visit to Turkey if peace talks were held. But after Putin became angry, Trump tried to smooth out the inconvenience by saying that “nothing will happen until I and Putin meet.”
It is closer to reality to say that nothing will happen until Putin feels that he has an incentive to appear and negotiate. Putin’s failure to do so is another proof that the Russian is not serious about the end of war, and this is not surprising. Putin believes Trump can abandon Ukraine and facilitate the continuation of the seizure of Ukrainian territory.
According to the Institute of War Research, from Trump’s inauguration, Putin has fired 346 rockets and over 13,000 truly and enticing drones to Ukraine.
“Vladimire, Stop!”, Sus said Trump on social media after a Russian blow killed civilians in Kiev late last month.
Putin has not stoppedS An attack on the capital last week killed civilians.
As the summer months approach, Russia seems to be preparing for a new offensive. Russia has won a well -known territory in the eastern part of Ukraine in winter, but at high cost and without strategic breakthroughs. But Putin knows that Ukraine will exhaust its current stocks of American ammunition in weeks.
Trump made a sincere effort to mediate to end the war, but the president seems worse, the longer Putin talks about peace, but he waged the war. Trump does not want the world to see him as a petitioner to the Kremlin.
The best way to peace is to increase pressure on MoscowS Trump can start with secondary sanctions against countries that buy Russian energy. Former chief economist of the US Department of Finance Eric van Nostrand wrote on these pages this week that removing a quarter of Russian oil exports from the market would reduce Kremlin’s revenue by 20%. World oil production is high enough that it would not raise gas prices in the United States significantly.
Trump could also announce his support for more military assistance to Ukraine. Then, when Trump finally meets Putin, Ukraine and Trump will negotiate from a far stronger position. Peace through strength, someone ever called it.
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