Since his inauguration on Jan. 20, US President Donald Trump has NOT done the following despite the promises of him and his acolytes:
- Achieved a peace settlement [of the war in Ukraine] within 24 hours of taking office
- Imposed secondary sanctions against countries importing Russian oil – which would place Putin’s fragile economy under more pressure
- Provided additional air defense systems or more lethal, long-range weapons –including Tomahawk missiles – to Ukraine.
During this period, he teased a “50 day” warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin of impending sanctions - which later became “12 days.” If memory serves me correct, something that I characterized at the time as a Trumpian “two weeks”– meaning never.
Trump also furnished Putin with a humanizing – as if such a thing were possible – walk-on cameo role during his “nothing burger” summit in Alaska.
Talks the talk but doesn’t walk the walk
The White House refusal to arm Ukraine with Tomahawks and cut off Putin’s blood money – two steps that would result in a favorable Ukrainian settlement with Russia or bring about Russia’s de facto military defeat, are further indications that Trump – like the proverbial tiger, has not changed his stripes.
As I wrote previously in The Independent, Trump 2.0 regards Putin as his junior partner “in-potentia.” Trump needs Putin to isolate China, and Putin needs Trump to survive.
Consider this: If the Russian president after his ignominious proxy defeat in Syria, a million Russian casualties in Ukraine, a devastated economy, and no clear victory in Ukraine, were to fail to deliver substantial territorial gains, elements of the far right military command, political leadership and oligarchy would end his reign.
Trump knows this – as he knows that were he to coerce concessions from Kyiv, that Putin would forever be in his debt. A “sine qua non” of any enduring settlement – beyond the complete withdrawal of Russian forces, would be Ukraine’s admission into NATO along with full membership of the European Union) – something that Trump opposes.
The troika of Trump-Putin-Musk seek greater influence over Europe and are all actively supporting right-wing parties, which are significantly less supportive of the Ukrainian cause.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is caught between a rock and a hard place exacerbated by his unwise decisions to meet Trump on a bilateral basis – especially at the White House – just as the bilateral meetings between Russia and the US or trilateral Ukraine-Trump-Putin meetings would be equally ill-advised.
Attention should be in the detail
I have urged the Ukrainian leader to only meet under the aegis of the only future guarantors of any peace treaty – the European powers.
As President Trump expedited a peace settlement in Gaza – in an attempt to secure the Nobel Peace Prize (which he was denied) – his attention to the details of what the “peace” would entail were lacking.
Without an international, Arab nation-led peacekeeping force on the ground, Hamas and Israel have already resumed attacks, and the Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has – once again – suspended humanitarian relief.
Waging war against Russia and achieving peace and security for Ukraine, are all about managing the details. Donald Trump’s geopolitical objectives are not those of Ukraine or Europe: Full stop.
As he dispatches federalized forces against US Democrat-led cities, know this: A vast majority of Democratic and Republican leaders support the Ukrainian people, as do the American people.
Despite their delusions of immortality, all tyrants come with an expiration date.
Our great poet Maya Angelou wrote:
“When someone shows you who they are, trust them the first time.”
President Trump has shown Ukraine – time and time again, precisely who he is. President Zelensky should take heed, and act accordingly.
The views expressed in this opinion article are the author’s and not necessarily those of Kyiv Post.