Cal Thomas: We lose, they win
In a striking contrast to former President Ronald Reagan’s assertive stance during the Cold War, President Trump’s recent approach to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has raised eyebrows and concerns. Reagan famously declared, “we win, they lose,” during a summit in Moscow in 1988, encapsulating a clear strategy against Soviet aggression. However, Trump’s proposed peace plan for Ukraine appears to echo a sentiment more aligned with “we lose, they win.” This plan, reportedly influenced by Russian interests, demands significant concessions from Ukraine, including the surrender of critical territories like Crimea and the Donbas region, which have been fiercely contested since Russia’s invasion. Such terms not only undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty but also seem to embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ambitions to reclaim former Soviet territories.
The proposed 28-point peace plan has drawn criticism for its one-sided nature, with analysts suggesting it mirrors a “leaked” Russian wish list rather than a balanced diplomatic effort. Key provisions include Ukraine’s renouncement of NATO membership and a cap on its military size, while allowing Russia to maintain control over occupied territories. The plan also vaguely promises a “security” force for Ukraine, yet many question the effectiveness of such assurances, especially given Putin’s history of aggression. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt’s comments, suggesting the plan reflects the “realities of the situation” after years of conflict, hint at a troubling acceptance of a capitulatory stance that many fear will only encourage further Russian expansionism.
As discussions continue, the potential for Russia to violate any agreement remains high, with little in the way of punitive measures outlined should they do so. The lack of a robust response strategy raises alarms about the effectiveness of the proposed deal, which could inadvertently signal to authoritarian regimes that aggression can yield favorable outcomes. Critics argue that this approach not only jeopardizes Ukraine’s future but also sets a dangerous precedent for global diplomacy, potentially inviting further conflicts as dictators like Putin perceive weakness in the West. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen whether the U.S. and Ukraine can forge a more equitable peace that preserves sovereignty and deters future aggression, or if they will succumb to a deal that merely appeases a dictator.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cp-AK8ETdg
In 1988, when President Ronald Reagan was asked by a reporter during the summit in Moscow what his goal was in the Cold War, he
said
: “we win, they lose.”
When it comes to today’s Russia and its unprovoked war with Ukraine, President Trump’s goal at least in practice and outcome appears to be “we lose, they win.”
The president has given Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy until Thanksgiving Day to
accept
his “peace proposal” which reads as if it could have been written by Vladimir Putin. In fact, according to news reports, it may have been. According to the
NY Post
, “Secretary of State Marco Rubio told US senators Saturday that the sweeping peace plan to end the nearly four-year war between Russia and Ukraine was not America’s — but merely a ‘leaked’ Russian ‘wish list.”
Maybe so, but it seems to align with the one-sided pressure Trump has put on Zelenskyy to settle the war since he took office. Trump said Saturday the proposal is not his “
final offer.
”
If the document is from the administration, it is capitulation to most of Putin’s demands and is an invitation for the dictator to continue pursuing his stated goal of re-taking all of the former Soviet satellite countries, which have been free and independent since the end of the Cold War.
According to a draft of the proposal shared publicly by a member of the Ukraine opposition party, the 28-point document would require Ukraine to surrender its Eastern Donbas region, as well as Crimea, the latter of which no previous administration has demanded since Putin invaded Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula. It also would require Ukraine to forgo NATO membership, though it does loosely promise a “security” force, presumably to prevent Putin from gobbling up more territory. If Zelinskyy bows to U.S. pressure and accepts a deal forced upon him, we might as well get the U.S.S. Missouri out of mothballs and replicate the signing of surrender documents by the Japanese, ending World War II.
In a statement to CBS News, White House press secretary
Karoline Leavitt
said: “This plan was crafted to reflect the realities of the situation, after five years of a devastating war, to find the best win-win scenario, where both parties gain more than they must give.” That sounds like an admission the document came from us.
Among the
provisions
in the proposed deal is that Russia would be allowed to keep much of the territory it now occupies and even take over land Ukraine currently holds, along with regions of Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk. These would be recognized by the U.S. as de facto Russia territory. Any bets on how long it would take Putin to swallow whole these regions into greater Russia?
The plan creates a neutral “buffer zone” with no Russian forces allowed. Again, place your bets on how long that will last?
Zelenskyy will be required to cap the size of his military (there is no similar requirement for Russia) and promise not to become a NATO member, but it can join the European Union. Does anyone expect the EU to mount a significant resistance should Putin choose to violate the agreement and especially if he invades other countries as he has promised to do to restore the old Soviet satellite countries? It may be the only promise he has ever kept.
There is so much potential for Russia to violate the proposed agreement and so little effective response outlined if it does. These include more sanctions which so far have not worked.
Putin has always had a goal in the war he started, but the U.S. and Europe have vacillated about ours. This proposed peace deal will only encourage vile dictators like Putin. President Trump likes to say he wants to end wars. This agreement will only encourage Putin’s voracious appetite to start new ones as well as eventually finish the one against Ukraine.
Late Sunday, the U.S. and Ukraine
reportedly
agreed to change the draft of the peace plan, but the key is whether Putin will agree to anything that won’t give him everything he wants.
Readers may email Cal Thomas at
tcaeditors@tribpub.com
. Look for Cal Thomas’ latest book “A Watchman in the Night: What I’ve Seen Over 50 Years Reporting on America” (HumanixBooks).
