Putin is a lot smarter than Trump. I expected Putin to jerk Trump around and he did. Trump has been threatening to do bad things to Russia for months and when Putin would defy Trump, he would quietly go away. Putin has defied Trump again and Trump’s response is we have made progress. What was the progress? Putin has not changed course. Trump will meet with Zelensky in what I am sure will be in private. What will Trump tell Zelensky? “You have to accept Putin’s demands or I will not get the peace Prize.” You have stopped Russia temporarily but they will soon bring in big guns and crush you, and we will not be helping you. You do not hold any cards so you should surrender.”
Putin is not going to change direction. He knows from experience that Trump is a paper tiger he does not have to fear. That being said, Trump’s only card is to attempt to bully Zelensky into surrender. Zelensky stood up to Trump once. Will he do so again? There will be a lot of pressure put on Zelensky. Will he be told if he does not surrender the US will no longer give them weapons or sell weapons to Europe to give Ukraine?
I do not think Ukraine is in an hopeless situation. They have been innovative in fighting a much larger foe. Russia has been bogged down for years now in Ukraine. Many analysts think as long as Ukraine keeps fighting Russia has no clear path to conquering them. Russia made need help from Trump. Ukraine may come up with a plan to annihilate the Russian troops occupying their land and they should. I make no apologies for that statement. The Russians have no right to be in Ukraine.
Putin wants back all the land once under the control of the old Communist Soviet Union. Then he will want to extend into Europe and then Alaska. We can stop Russia now while they are struggling to conquer Ukraine. Or we can fight against them when they start invading Europe. Or we might be able to avoid war with Russia until they start invading Alaska. Or we might be able to avoid war altogether by ceding Alaska to them. Trump has many ways to stop Russia without declaring war. He could put economic sanctions on Russia that would shut down Russia’s ability to make war with Ukraine if the free world would give Ukraine the weapons it needs to fight Russia. Why is Trump refusing to get tough on Russia? Is he afraid he will hurt Putin’s Feelings? Is he afraid of Putin?
This is an opinion blog for Conservatives and People of Faith.