Cal Thomas: We lose, they win
In a striking contrast to President Ronald Reagan’s resolute stance during the Cold War, where he declared “we win, they lose,” the current geopolitical landscape under President Trump appears to reflect a troubling shift in strategy regarding Russia’s unprovoked war on Ukraine. Trump’s recent peace proposal to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has raised eyebrows, as it seems to align closely with Russian interests, leading critics to argue that it amounts to a capitulation to Vladimir Putin’s demands. Reports suggest that the proposal, which includes significant territorial concessions from Ukraine, may not even originate from the U.S. but rather be a “leaked” Russian wishlist, according to a statement by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. This has led to concerns that the Trump administration is pressuring Ukraine into a settlement that could ultimately undermine its sovereignty and encourage further aggression from Russia.
The proposed 28-point peace plan, which has been shared publicly by members of Ukraine’s opposition, would require Ukraine to relinquish control over its Eastern Donbas region and Crimea—territories that have been fiercely contested since Russia’s annexation in 2014. Additionally, the proposal stipulates that Ukraine must abandon its aspirations for NATO membership, although it offers a vague promise of a security force to deter future Russian advances. Critics argue that this agreement not only undermines Ukraine’s territorial integrity but also sets a dangerous precedent for international relations, potentially emboldening other authoritarian regimes. The plan includes provisions that would allow Russia to maintain much of the territory it currently occupies, raising serious doubts about the feasibility of any “buffer zone” that would prevent further incursions. As the situation develops, the question remains whether Zelenskyy can navigate the pressures from the U.S. while safeguarding his nation’s independence.
As discussions continue, the potential implications of this peace proposal are alarming. The lack of equivalent limitations on Russia’s military capabilities compared to Ukraine’s, coupled with the vague assurances regarding future violations, suggests a precarious balance of power that heavily favors Moscow. The European Union’s capacity to respond to any breaches of the agreement is also called into question, particularly given Putin’s historical pattern of aggression. Critics argue that rather than fostering a resolution, this plan may only serve to embolden Putin’s ambitions, leading to further destabilization in Eastern Europe. As the U.S. and Ukraine reportedly work on revising the proposal, the effectiveness of any agreement that does not adequately address Russia’s expansionist goals remains highly uncertain. The outcome of these negotiations could have lasting repercussions not only for Ukraine but for the broader international order in the face of authoritarian aggression.
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).
