Putin Proves to be the Barrier to Peace
Two highly respected conservative newspapers, the Wall Street Journal, and the National Review responded to Russia’s proposed 30-day cease-fire against bombing infrastructure and then talks to cease naval bombings with the following almost duplicate headlines:
“Vladimir Putin Rejects Trump’s Cease-Fire” – Noah Rothman, National Review
“Putin Rejects the Trump Cease-Fire” – the Editorial Board, WSJ
In both articles, the writers questioned the seriousness of Putin’s commitment to peace.
The National Review article suggests such a deal “if entered into effect, would give Moscow a reprieve from Ukraine’s successful attacks on naval assets and drone assaults on Russia’s petroleum facilities deep inside the federation.”
This 30-day pause would benefit Russia more than Ukraine since Ukraine has found ways to protect its energy infrastructure better and has minimal naval assets.
The same article ponders what Ukraine would get . Very little.
As a condition of a cease-fire, Putin is requiring the end of Western military aid and intelligence to Ukraine without promising to pause his own requisitions of military assistance from our adversaries, North Korea, Iran, and China. Nor did he agree to pause his own weapons building.
Noah Rothman believes Putin will only agree to a cease-fire if it benefits Russia by giving them a hiatus to regroup and attack again when it’s to his advantage.
The WSJ’s conclusion of the call was, “Mr. Putin didn’t agree to Mr. Trump’s 30-day cease-fire while Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky did. Have we figured out yet who’s the real obstacle to peace?”
The WSJ mentioned not only Putin’s demands to end Western military aid and intelligence to Ukraine in a cease-fire but also his conditions to keep Ukraine out of the talks and sanctions relief.
While the American Ukraine PAC appreciates President Trump’s noble objective to end the war in Ukraine, it must be done with Ukraine and Europe sitting at the table alongside the United States and Russia. It must require not only Ukraine but also Russia to make concessions. A durable peace can only be achieved with the sovereignty of Ukraine and other European countries secured.