LOS ANGELES (OC).–Meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later this week in Kiev, Special Peace envoy Keith Kellogg hopes to reinforce to the Ukrainian negotiating team what it will take to end the Ukraine War. Zelensky has been adamant recently saying the constitution forbids him from ceding sovereign territory to a foreign power. Zelensky finds himself in a dilemma because he doesn’t’s have the resources to sustain the war without the U.S. or EU funding it. Zelensky would keep fighting indefinitely, no matter what the infrastructure destruction of loss of life as long as the U.S. or EU foots the bill. But under President Donald Trump, Zelensky understands that Trump has bigger fish to fry trying to reset U.S.-Russian relations after four years of disaster with former President Joe Biden. Biden was the only U.S. president to wage proxy war with the Russian Federation, ending diplomatic relations.
When Zelensky visited the White House Feb. 28 and was told by Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance to make a deal whatever it took to end the Ukraine War, he threw a fit and was escorted out of the White House. Whether Zelensky learned anything or not isn’t known. He’s been talking tough lately saying he would not surrender Ukrainian territory already in Putin’s hands. Trump has told Zelensky to end the conflict he would need to cede Donetsk and Luhansk to the Kremlin, the exact offer made by Putin in March 2022 only weeks after the war started. Zelensky refused Putin’s offer to negotiate a settlement in 2022 and opted for war with the Kremlin. Three-and-a-half years later, Ukraine has sustained staggering losses with infrastructure and human life. Zelensky knows that the EU, no matter how much support he gets, won’t pay indefinitely.
Zelensky has played off EU sympathies saying that Trump would get Ukraine a raw deal by ceding land to Putin to end the war. Zelensky’s backers in the EU, including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and U.S. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, know there isn’t a bottomless pit of cash in the EU. Zelensky could theoretically keep the war going with enough cash-and-arms indefinitely. Kellogg’s visit to Kiev hopes to lay out the parameters of a peace deal based on requirements put out by Putin. Vice President J.D. Vance said Putin has made his own concessions recently, saying he’s willing to accept a Security Council-approved security forced but, more importantly, ready to return Kherson and Zaporizhzia to Ukraine. Zelensky, so far, has shown no willingness to compromise on the necessary land-for-peace idea.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Putin’s right hand man, told NBC’s Kristen Welker Sunday that Putin recognized the independence of Ukraine. He said Ukraine had a right to exist, dispelling Kiev propaganda that Putin was trying to ethnically cleanse Ukrainians. Zelensky doesn’t like to have his propaganda disputed, especially claiming that Ukraine protects European democracy, an excuse to continue receiving arms-and-cash. Ukraine can’t defend itself from the Russian assault, surely they’re in no position to defend the European Continent. Zelenksy has told the European Parliament that Putin has his eye on other European countries once he wins the Ukraine War. Putin has told every journalist in the U.S. and European that he has no plans to take on NATO. Yet if you listen to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Europe is under threat from the Kremlin.
All the talk in the EU to slap Putin with more sanctions because he won’t meet with Zelensky is preposterous. Putin sent a delegation to Istanbul to work out the details of a final peace settlement. Putin said he would meet with Zelensky once the Ukrainian and Russian negotiators finished their work for an acceptable peace deal. Speaking at the White House last week, Merz said he was still hopeful that Putin would agree to a 30-day ceasefire. Well, unless Merz wasn’t paying attention, Trump said the ceasefire deal was off the table instead focusing on a permanent settlement. Trump and Putin agreed that ceasefire deal did nothing to bring both parties closer to a deal. Trump has heaped pressure on Putin and Zelensky to let their negotiating teams work on finishing a deal so both Zelensky and Putin could meet and sign the agreement. Time for the EU to back Trump.
Putin isn’t trying to avoid Zelensky, he’s trying to get both sides to work on a permanent political settlement to the war. Putin has certain basic demands, so does Zelensky. But to get any kind to deal they’ll have to meet each other halfway, where both sides make the kind of concessions to bring the war to an end. Putting Zelensky and Putin in a room together would be a disaster, both leaders have nothing to add to the peace process. When it comes to approving various terms-and-conditions, that’s where both leaders can be helpful. Talking directly to each other would solve nothing, probably deteriorate into an argument. Putin let Trump know at their summit Aug. 15 that he was not avoiding peace talks at all but wanted them to go methodically to reach a constructive end. If Zelensky cedes Donetsk and Luhansk to Moscow, he’d go back to Putin’s original offer.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.co and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
