I cannot understand the proposed Russia-Ukraine peace proposal put forth by Trump and the Russians. My initial reactions - if this is not a joke, then it's insane. Some background. Ukraine had possessed some nuclear weapons as part of the Soviet Union. Following the breakup of the USSR, these now independent countries, such as Ukraine, agreed to give up the nukes that were held on their soil.
So, in 1994, Ukraine signed onto the Budapest Memorandum, agreeing to give up its nukes and agreeing to non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. In exchange, Ukraine was given "security guarantees" by the US, the UK and Russia. Of course, we know that "agreements" made by dictators are nothing more than worthless promises. As such, Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014 and seized the Crimea. Who provided the security guarantee to Ukraine at that time? No one. Not the USA. Not the UK.
Now, we are told that after 4 years of fighting, during which the "mighty" Russian army has been unable to defeat Ukraine, the Ukrainians must give up much of their territory. Forego the Crimea. Forego even parts of the Donbas that Russia has yet to conquer. Give up other territories as well. Ukraine must reduce the size of its army by one half. And Ukraine must agree, and NATO must agree, that Ukraine shall never be a member of NATO. What does Ukraine get?
Ukraine gets "reliable security guarantees." Right. Just like before. Anybody believe that when Russia attacks again (not if but when) the US will send soldiers to Ukraine to fight the Russians? Not a chance. And the Europeans? This is in their backyard. Pretty much consistently worthless. As the conservative New York Post opined: "Kyiv could demand the ouster of Putin's regime and it would still be less one-sided than this nonsense."
An Op-Ed by one writer really resonated with me. "In Munich in 1938, the UK and France likewise pressured Czechoslovakia into giving up the mountainous region of Sudetenland, together with its advanced system of fortifications, which had made a previous invasion by Nazi Germany impracticable. Less than seven months later, Czechoslovakia ceased to exist."
Putin has repeatedly and openly said that the end of the Soviet Union was the biggest tragedy of the 20th century. He has repeatedly said that he seeks a return to the old Soviet Union. If Ukraine falls, who's next? If next up are NATO members on the Baltic Sea, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, who will come to their defense? Whatever treaty commitments there are as a member of NATO (an attack on one shall be treated as an attack on all), I do not see any NATO countries coming to their defense. Definitely not the US.
What's the alternative? Let the fighting continue? Trump says he wants to end the killing. But Russia started this war. Russia has no problem targeting civilians and even children. So that's where the pressure should be - all on Russia. (The fact that the Ukrainian government has issues regarding corruption is irrelevant to this fight, and to the right of the Ukrainian people to self-determination.) Greater sanctions on Russia are needed. Provide more offensive weapons to Ukraine. Or, be like Neville Chamberlain, and believe that appeasement results in "peace for our time." Because it doesn't. Peace through strength is the only sure path to peace. Like George Washington said. Like Ronald Reagan said. Like I thought Trump believed.
Teddy Roosevelt had it right: "Peace is generally good in itself, but it is never the highest good unless it comes as the handmaid of righteousness; and it becomes a very evil thing if it serves merely as a mask for cowardice and sloth, or as an instrument to further the ends of despotism or anarchy."
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