LOS ANGELES (OC).–Meeting at the White House today, President Donald Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that he would not supply Tomahawk Cruise missiles to Ukraine, saying he didn’t want to deplete U.S. stockpiles but, more importantly, that he thinks he can end the war peacefully rather that escalate the conflict. Zelensky operates with the belief he can take on the Russian Federation as long as he’s given enough cash-and-arms by the U.S. and EU. Zelensky abandoned Trump’s peace plans with Putin because he doesn’t want to cede any sovereign territory held by Putin today to complete a peace settlement. Zelensky found support in the European Union because the Baltic States and Poland say they’re concerned about Putin moving on from Ukraine to the EU. Putin has never said he has any intention to picking a fight with NATO or seizing EU territory.
Zelensky wanted Tomahawk Cruise missiles thinking that if he could strike at Putin’s oil infrastructure the main driver of his war machine. But the real reason Zelensky wants Tomahawk Cruise missiles is to destroy U.S.-Russian relations, thinking he’d have a better chance of getting more cash-and-arms from the United States. “We need Tomahawks, and we need a lot of the other things that we’ve been sending over the last four years to Ukraine,” Trump said. “One of the reasons we want to get this war over is exactly that—it’s not easy for us to give. You’re talking about massive numbers of very powerful weapons,” Trump said to Zelensky, knowing Zelensky didn’t buy it. Trump explained to Zelensky he’s looking to end the war not escalate it by attacking deep inside the Russian Federation. Tomahawks have a range of 1,500 km [800 miles], missiles that could strike Moscow.
At one point in their conversation, Zelensky, the ubiquitous salesman, asked if he could trade Ukrainian drones for Tomahawk Cruise missles. Zelensky doesn’t take no for an answer, even though Trump tried to let him off the hook easily. “They’re a very powerful weapon, but they’re very dangerous weapon,” Trump told Zelensky. “And it could mean escalation. It could mean—a lot of bad things can happen. Tomahawks are a big deal,” Trump told Zelensky his thoughts on why he thought supplying Tomahawks would be a bad idea. Trump told Zelensky that Putin wanted to make a deal, after speaking with him yesterday. But to Zelensky what kind of deal does Putin want? To seize more Ukrainian sovereign territory in exchange for peace? Zelensky and the EU have rejected Trump and Putin’s peace plan to exchange territory for peace, something they refuse to do.
Trump told Zelensky exactly what he didn’t want to hear about Putin seeks peace. Zelensky denigrates Putin publicly every time he’s able, saying the Russian president only respects strength. “I think he wants to make a deal,” Trump said, not knowing whether or not the deal would be acceptable to Zelensky and the EU. Zelensky acts like ne must check with the EU when it comes to any peacemaking. He vacillates from letting Trump handle the negotiation to telling Trump that the EU vetoes the deal because it cedes land to the Kremlin. After three-and-a-half years of war, Zelensky lost some 25% of Ukraine’s best sovereign territory, continuing to lose ground on the 1,200 km battlefront to the Kremlin. Trump asked Zelensky many times to cut his losses, end the war and start the lengthy and costly process of rebuilding his country.
Zelensky had high hopes going into his meeting with Trump today that he would get the Tomahawk Cruise missiles. Speaking with friends in the Congress, Zelensky has many backers for his ongoing war with the Kremlin. Had Kamala been elected, Zelensky would have received the same blank check to wage proxy war with the Kremlin. Trump realized that months ago that Zelensky is no friend of his. Zelensky stabbed Trump in the back at the Munich Security Conference, telling EU delegates that Trump was not concerned about European security. Speaking with Putin a day before Zelensky’s meeting, it was clear Trump would not offer Zelensky any Cruise missiles, instead tell him he’s working on peace, not escalating the war and wrecking U.S.-Russian relations.
Trump demonstrated great statesmanship with Zelensky, offering a cordial meeting but explaining why he won’t honor Zelensky’s request for Tomahawk Cruise missiles. Zelensky understands the implications for U.S.-Russian relations should Trump decide to supply the deadly long-range missiles to Ukraine. Trump wants to end the war at the earliest possible time knowing that Zelensky has been the main impediment in getting a deal with Putin. If Zelensky refuses to trade land-for-peace, he’s shooting any prospect for peace in the foot. To make peace talks work, Zelensk needs to negotiate and compromise with Putin to get a deal. Tomahawk Cruise missiles would only postpone any peace deal and prolong the war. Trump told Zelensky that Putin wants to make a deal. But the real question is does Zelensky? So far, he’s refused to negotiate and 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.
