LOS ANGELES (OC).–Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed to push on with the war no matter what the outside pressure for a ceasefire, including added involvement from President Donald Trump. Putin responded to Trump giving him 50 days to come to a ceasefire, authorizing NATO to supply Ukraine with Patriot missiles to protect its civilian population from the Russian bombardment. Trump was actually not threatening at all trying to push for peace in Ukraine, saying that he would let NATO buy from the Pentagon Patriot missiles to help Ukraine defend its air space. There’s no love lost between Ukraine’s 47-year-old President Volodymyr Zelensky and Trump, where a past encounter in the Oval Office ended badly. Trump tried to tell Zelensky to cut his losses in Ukraine, compromise with Putin and end the over three-year conflict. Now Zelensky faces even more losses.
Trump tried to reason with Zelensky in the Oval office but Ukrainian president threw a fit, especially knowing that Trump has worked hard to restore normal U.S.-Russian relations. Under former President Joe Biden, Zelensy was used to Biden treating Putin as an enemy, not an ally like Trump. Zelensky couldn’t handle the fact that Trump sees the big picture of how global cooperation helps U.S. foreign policy and national security. Once Zelensky thought that Trump and Putin were working on a peace plan, he ran to the European Union claiming Trump favored Putin in any peace deal. Trump found out the hard way that Zelensky isn’t willing to play ball on any kind of peace settlement. He’s refuses to cede any land to Putin after over three years of war where Putin continues to seize more Ukrainian territory. Trump warned Zelensky that the longer the war goes, the more he loses.
Trump’s decision to let NATO buy Patriot Missiles and potential threat of news sanctions did not change Putin’s willingness for a ceasefire. “Putin thinks no one seriously engaged with him on the details of peace in Ukraine—including the Americans—so he will continue until he gets what he wants,” said an unnamed Kremlin source. After speaking with Putin on the phone about a ceasefire, he continued to hammer Ukraine more than ever with drones and ballistic missiles. “Putin values the relationship with Trump and has had good discussions with Witkoff, but the interests of Russia come above all else,” said the anonymous source. So, when it comes to the war, Putin believes that only a strong show of force will bring Zelensky to the peace table. Trump took it personally that Putin continued to hit Ukraine hard while he was working for a ceasefire and peace deal.
Putin wants in any ceasefire deal that he receives a legally binding pledge that Ukraine will not join the NATO alliance. Putin wants NATO to stop expanding eastward, limit its current military gains, protect Russian-speakers in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and, most importantly, accept Russian gains over Ukraine sovereign territory. Trump knows that Zelensky has rejected any discussion of trading land-for-peace, the only path to a ceasefire and peace deal. Zelensky demanded Putin’s “memorandum” for ceasefire at the June 2 Istanbul talks, only to be told afterward that it amounted to “blackmail.” Zelensky was talking about Ukraine ceding Kherson, Zaporizhazhia, Donetsk, Luhansk, and, of course, Crimea. Zelensky ran to EU which agreed with Zelensky that should not have to cede any lost territory to Russia. How realistic is that to settle the conflict?
Zelensky is not happy with Trump because he ruled out Ukraine joining NATO. NATO has told Zelensky he’s not eligible for NATO membership because he’s at war with the Kremlin, but also because he doesn’t meet democracy standards. Putin said that if Zelensky does not recognize Russia’s sovereignty over Kherson, Zaporizhazia, Donetsk, Luhansk and Crimea, he would continue stretching the battlefield to include Kharkiv, Suny and Dnipropetrovsk regions. Trump warned Zelensky that the longer he waits on peace, the more territory he would lose to Russia. So, when it comes to getting Putin on board with a ceasefire, he’s going to need guarantees from the U.S. that Ukraine would not join NATO, NATO would not encroach on Russia, Ukraine would accept Russian control of seized territory and that the U.S. and NATO would stop arming Ukraine.
Trump has limited leverage with Putin but far more than the EU. Putin at least sees Trump as a cooperative partner, working to restore U.S.-Russian relations. Putin sees the EU as a mortal enemy trying to back Ukraine to undermine his Kremlin regime. So, when it comes to leverage for a ceasefire, the peace plan is best run through Trump to get any results. Zelensky remains the main obstacle to peace, refusing to cede any territory to Russia to end the war. So, when Trump sizes up who’s throwing roadblocks to peace, Putin put his cards on the table and specified what he needed for a ceasefire. Zelensky has essentially said he wants to continue fighting as long as the EU pays for it. Trump has made clear to Zelensky he would no longer pay for proxy war with the Kremlin. If there’s any chance at peace, the EU must change its position and support Trump’s peace efforts.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
