The Preposterous Plan For Peace

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Based upon what we know about the so-called 28 point peace plan for supposedly ending the Russia- Ukraine war, it has all the hallmarks of beautifully wrapped gift for Vladimir Putin. 

According to the Atlantic Daily (November 24): 

"The central points of the plan reflect long-standing Russian demands. The United States would recognize Russian rule over Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk—all of which are part of Ukraine. Russia would, in practice, be allowed to keep territory it has conquered in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. In all of these occupation zones, Russian forces have carried out arrests, torture, and mass repression of Ukrainian citizens, and because Russia would not be held accountable for war crimes, they could continue to do so with impunity. Ukraine would withdraw from the part of Donetsk that it still controls—a heavily reinforced and mined territory whose loss would open up central Ukraine to a future attack."

If I were Volodymyr Zelensky I would be beside myself, trying to steer my country through a seemingly unending war with an unrelenting and unrepentant foe, and, at the same time, respond to the next pivot by the scatterbrained President of the United States.

Why should we, as observers of this nonsense, think otherwise? Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff has no knowledge of history and diplomacy, choosing to ignore well documented Russian intentions. What are his credentials for such an important and impactful responsibility? He was a real-estate lawyer who became a "developer".  In my experience with "developers" this essentially equates to scam artist with one thing in mind: personal profit over the people on the other side of the arrangement. This is also in perfect alignment with Trump's view of what constitutes a "deal".

True to form, as if this was one of Trump's typical real estate deals, where he could back his adversary into a corner, threaten not to pay them in addition to threats to sue, he offers an unacceptable proposition to drive a settlement for accepting pennies on the dollar.

This is what is left for Ukraine to choose from this preposterous plan for peace. In the meantime, Putin can continue to play his long game, lobbing missiles from afar, terrorizing a nation, despite the attrition to his own forces, to eventually, in his mind, force Ukraine to sue for peace.  That peace would only be a springboard to future war.

I cannot help but wonder how Trump would behave if something similar happened on his own borders. What if Mexico was much stronger than it is militarily and had invaded the United States taking swaths of territory in the deep south -  by force.  Huge sections of Texas and Georgia, all of Louisiana, Alabama and Florida would be under Mexican occupation - and Mara Lago would be their headquarters for further conquest. Would he send Witkoff to meet Claudia Sheinbaum to propose the annexation of that territory by Mexico as a "peace deal" all under the guise of ending the war? I think the answer to those questions is crystal clear.

The Russian war with Ukraine will not end with the Trump peace plan. Nor will Putin end the pursuit of his intentions to absorb Ukraine.

It is time for bold action by the coalition of the willing. More pressure must be applied to Putin - not just in more economic sanctions but by military force in the invaded territories and more importantly, in Russia itself. Europe has to put up or shut up.

Wars prosecuted by conquistadors (in this case of the Russian variety) are not won by passive actions, primarily defense and ridiculous plans for an unacceptable peace. They are won by a stalwart defense and a determined offence that forces the invading enemy to retreat. Otherwise, at some point, the invaded country gives up and cuts their losses, falling under complete occupation and unending misery.

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