LOS ANGELES (OC).–Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensk and the European Union have once against sabotaged Trump’s peace plan to end the Ukraine War. EU officials expressed skepticism about Trump’s plan, claiming it favors Moscow, when, in fact, it favors only peace. Trump has worked feverishly for months on a plan with Russian President Vladimir Putin that would finally end the nearly four-year-old war that killed tens-of-thousands of Ukrainian and Russian troop, with thousands more civilians killed . Ukraine has been reduced in certain parts to the Stone Age where Putin’s relentless bombing campaign has set Ukraine back a generation all because Zelensky opted for war Feb. 24, 2022 the date Putin move his army into Ukraine. Zelensky said he was defending Ukrainian honor and sovereignty when he could have opted for negotiation and compromise with Putin.
Putin offered Zelensky in March 2022 to end the war if Zelensky ceded Eastern Donbas to Russia. Things haven’t changed much since Putin offered in the latest peace plan to do the same. Yet Zelensky, who’s lost some 25% of Ukraine’s best sovereign territory battling the Kremlin, insists he cannot surrender any territory to Putin because it violates the Ukrainian constitution. Putin already controls Donetsk and Luhansk in Eastern Donbas, making Zelensky’s arguments look naïve and foolish. Zelensky stands to lose nothing letting Putin retain Donetsk and Luhansky, two Russian speaking enclaves in Eastern Donbass that want nothing to do with the Kiev government. So, what’s the point to continuing to fight for territory that he hasn’t controlled in year? Actually, Ukraine hasn’t controlled Donbas since the 2014 Maiden Revolution with pro-Western revolutionaries.
Zelensky forgets quickly the history in 2014 when pro-Western rebels toppled the duly elected, Kremlin-backed government of Viktor Yanukovych. Once Yanukovych was chased out of Kiev, Putin annexed the Crimea Peninsula March 1, 2014 to protect in navy and air base in Sevastopol. Either we liberate these territories by force, or Ukrainan troop will leave these territories,” Putin said today in an official state visit to New Delhi. Putin could not be more clear what he wants after nearly four years of a costly and bloody war. He wants the same thing he wanted in 2022, controlling Donetsk and Luhansk. Putin controls about 85% of Eastern Donbas, something not likely to change anytime soon. Zelensky thought he could evict Putin if he got unlimited cash-and-weapons from the U.S. and EU. Four years of year have proved otherwise with Putin firmly in control of Donbas.
Putin’s chief adviser and negotiator Yuri Ushakov said discussions with Ukraine produced “no compromise” to end the war. Zelensky and the EU still take the stubborn position that they won’t surrender any sovereign territory to Putin, when, in fact, Putin controls some 85% of Eastern Donbas. Ukraine likes to accuse Moscow of stalling talks, when Putin has put his cards on the table, whether Zelensky likes it or not. EU officials like French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer do Zelensky no favors supporting his fantasy to evicting Moscow from Ukraine. Four years of war has rained destruction down on Ukraine, setting the country back a generation. EU officials would help Zelensky to understand that the EU doesn’t have the cash-and-arms to fund perpetual war with the Russian Federation.
Meeting in Geneva over the weekend, EU officials expressed skepticism of the U.S. plan, warning Zelensky to be careful with Trump’s peace plan. German magazine Der Spiegel obtained a transcript of EU officials warning Zelensky about U.S.-brokered peace plans. “There is a possibility that the U.S. will betray Ukraine on the issue of territory without clarity no security guarantees,” said French President Emmanuel Macron. “They are playing games, both with you and with us,” Merz said, showing that the EU has sabotaged Zelensky. How does it help Zelensky to warn him about making peace when the EU can’t afford to spend more cash supporting the war? Finnish President Alexander Stubb also expressed concern that Zelensky was going to be pressured by the American side. Zelensky has hoodwinked himself into thinking the EU defends Ukraine’s interests.
Der Spiegel exposes the true feelings of EU officials on surrendering more territory to Vladimir Putin. Whether they like it or not, Putin has been embroiled in nearly four year costly, bloody war, seizing Ukrainian territory by the day. What’s the EU thinking that Zelensky should not negotiate with Putin, including ceding Eastern Donbas, including Donetsk and Luhansk, to the Kremlin? Putin stated his conditions for peace showing a willingness to give back considerable territory to Zelensky as long as he compromises on Donetsk and Luhansk. EU officials do Zelensky no favors pushing him to keep the war going. Brussels knows it cannot fund the war indefinitely, nor can it confiscate frozen Russian assest held in Beligium to pay for Zelelensky continue war. EU officials should stop meddling and tell Zelensky to follow Trump’s plans to end the war.
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.
