LOS AGNELES (OC).–Getting down to brass tacks, 79-year-old President Donald Trump meets tomorrow with Ukraine’s 47-year-old President Volodymyr Zelensky and European Union officials at the White House to brief them on talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump’s summit with Putin didn’t get the 30-day ceasefire wanted by the EU but it got clarity on what it would take to end the three-and-a-half-year conflict. Zelensky wants in any final peace deal NATO-like security guarantees from the United States and EU, something Trump may not be willing to give. “We were able to win the following concession: That the United Stes could offer Article 5-like protection, which is one of real reasons why Ukraine wants to be in NATO,” said special envoy Steve Witkoff. Witkoff has met with Putin five times in Moscow, working out the detailed contours of a peace deal.
When it comes to a peace deal, Zelensky wants security guarantees to prevent Moscow from repeating the same invasion of Ukrainian territory. Witkoff said for the first time that Putin agreed in principle to the U.S. and EU providing Article 5-like post-war security. But the real security to Ukraine involves Zelensky learning to get along with Putin, not cross any red lines that threaten Russian national security. Zelensky didn’t know when he kept taking unlimited arms from former President Joe Biden that it violated Russian national security. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also serving as National Security Advisor, said there’s still much to be worked out before any peace deal can be consummated. Trump made clear he no longer backs a 30-day ceasefire deal. Zelensky and EU officials tried in vain to get Putin to accept a pause in fighting before they worked out a deal.
Zelensky’s push to join NATO prompted Putin to take military action Feb. 24, 2022 to stop the unending flow of U.S. arms. Whatever security arrangement eventually prevails, Zelensky must learn to get along with his Russian neighbor, not continue to provoke the Kremlin into another conflict. “How’s that constructed, what we call it, how it’s built, what guarantees are built into it that are enforceable, that’s what we’ll be talking about over the next few days with our partners,” Rubio told NBC’s “Meet the Press.” Trump has said in the past that he wants the EU to step up to do the heavy lifting when it came to Ukrainian security. Trump and Witkoff said Putin agreed to have the Russian Duma, the parliament, to enact a law that prohibits Russia from taking more territory in Europe. For whatever reason, the EU wants security guarantees from Russia for Brussels.
Why would Trump, who’s working feverishly to reset U.S.-Russian relations, agree to use the U.S. military to defend Ukraine in the future? Former President Joe Biden made a colossal mistake to fund proxy war against the Kremlin, all because Zelensky said he was a fledgling democracy trying to survive Russia’s aggression. Trump wants Zelensky and the EU to know that getting along with its neighbors is a top priority for Ukraine if it wants any future at all. Trump doesn’t want the U.S. footing another foreign war, let alone defending Ukraine in the future because they decide, for whatever reason, to start attacking Russia. “We welcome President Trump’s willingness to contribute to Article 5-like security guarantees for Ukraine an the ‘coalition of the willing’—including the European Union—is ready to do its share,” said European Council President Ursula von der Leyen.
Like all plans, the devil is in the details of exactly how post-war security arrangements would be made. But if Putin gets guarantees that Ukraine stop its fighting on the 600-mile front and its missile and drone attacks, Putin will be reassured about Russian national security. “There are no details how it will work, and what America’s role will be, Europe’s role will be and what the EU can do—and this is our main task. We need security to work in practice like Article 5, and we consider EU accession to be part of the security guarantees,” Zelensky said. Once Putin decides it’s over, Zelensky and the EU will have less anxiety about the prospects of future war. If Trump offers anything at all, it should be the consensus in the EU that all Russian sanctions are over, returning to doing business as usual. EU countries look forward to the day Russia can supply cheap petroleum and natural gas.
When it comes to negotiating a final deal involving territorial concessions, Trump and EU know that it’s coming. Zelensky doesn’t get the luxury of all his land back but he should end up getting a reasonable share returned to Ukraine. Putin asked Zelensky in March 2022, only weeks after the Feb. 24, 2022 invasion, to accept the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk plus Russian sovereignty over Crimea. So, three-and-a-half years of war have got Zelensky nothing more than6y what was originally offered by Putin. Trump told Zelensky Feb. 28 in the Oval Office that the war should have never happened. After all the death and destruction, Zelensky still talks like he’s winning the war. Trump told Zelensky Feb. 28 to end the war and cut his losses. Zelensky still wanted to fight, believing he would eventually beat back the Russian occupation. Now he realizes he must compromise.
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.
