LOS ANGELES (OC).–After meeting with his European partners in London over the weekend, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared that he will not cede Eastern Donbas to Moscow, even though he hasn’t controlled the region since before Feb. 22, 2014 pro-Western Maiden Revolution. Zelensky claims that it’s against the Ukrainian Constitution to cede territory to a foreign country, ignoring the fact that he’s been at war with Russia for nearly four years. During that time he’s watched his country bombed into the Stone Age, killing thousands, driving millions into exile and losing some 25% of Ukraine’s sovereign territory. For all the wisdom in the European Union, they encourage Zelensky to continue the fight, taking a daily beating at the hands of a superior Russian military. President Donald Trump has told Zelensky he doesn’t “have the cards” in a peace negotiation.
So what strategy do Zelensky and the EU have when it comes to ending the war? They don’t have a plan to end the war, even though the EU told Zelensky they can’t pay for his cash-strapped Kiev government and war much longer. There’s strong opposition in the EU to confiscate frozen Russian assets and give them to Zelensky to fund his government or the war because of liability issues. Belgium Prime Minister Bart De Wever vehemently opposes using any of the 185 billion euros currently under deposit. French President Emmanuel Macron said that France, that holds 18 billion in Russian assets, also can take the risk to legal liability to confiscating Russian assets. Zelensky thought the money was in the bag only to find out that there’s growing opposition to his plan to take frozen Russian cash. So, how will Zelensky pay for his war with the Kremlin?
Zelensky acts like he and the EU have a better peace plan when, in fact, they have none. “Russia is insisting that we give up territories, but we don’t want to cede anything,” Zelensky said Monday. Does Zelensky face reality that he can’t end the war on his terms? He hasn’t controlled Eastern Donbas since before the Feb. 22, 2014 pro-Western Maiden Revolution. “We have no legal right to do so, under Ukrainian law, our constitution and international law. An we dodn’t have any moral right either,” Zelensky after meeting with the EU friends in London. Who’s Zelensk kidding. He’s been at war with the Kremlin for nearly four years destroying his country. Where in the Ukrainian constitution does it say you have to stay in perpetual war because it’s against the law to cede territory? What kind of madness is that? Trump offers Zelensky the best possible way out of war.
Trump recognizes that Zelensky has been gaslighted by the EU to think they will pay indefinitely for proxy war with the Kremlin. But the EU has its own economic problems that doesn’t permit it to pay much longer for his war with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelensky has been served notice that more cash won’t come from frozen Russian assets, something he was counting on to fund his government and keep the war going. EU officials know what’s happened for the last four years of war with Russia. Zelensky has lost more sovereign territory daily and continues to subject Ukraine to ongoing war. Trump’s plan doesn’t favor Russia, as Zelensky says, it favors peace, a way to end the conflict. There’s simply no valid excuse to continue the war. Donetsk and Luhansk haven’t been part of Ukraine for the last 11 years.
EU officials like seeing Zelensky resist Trump and Putin but have no alternative plan for Ukraine. When Zelensky talks about how it’s illegal to cede territory, is it illegal to continue a war that destroys the country? What does the EU expect to happen over the next four years with Zelensky asking for more cash-and-arms. Can Ukraine endure the unending bombing and destruction of its infrastructure? “We are working very actively on all components of possible steps to end the war,” Zelensky said today. But without meeting Putin’s basic demand of controlling Eastern Donbas, including Donetsk and Luhansk, how does Zelensky think his plan will work? Zelensky and the EU have a plan but it has no backing in Moscow where it counts. Unless the deal is right for Putin, he’s not going to end the war unless he gets spoils for sacrificing so much over four years.
Zelensky still thinks he can call the shots in any peace talks with Putin, when Russia already controls Eastern Donbas and has for years. What’s Zelensky thinking that he can simply ignore Putin’s demand to have the region controlled by Russia? Ukraine hasn’t controlled Eastern Donbas since before the 2014 Maiden Revolution. “The Ukrainians and the European components have already been worked out more, and we are ready to present them to our partners in America. Together with the American side, we expect ot make the possible steps as workable as possible as soon as possible. What can Zelensky present to Trump when it won’t satisfy Russian demands to end the war? Trump knows that the EU has done nothing but throw a roadblock into peace efforts, refusing to acknowledge Zelensky must surrender territory to end the bloody four-year old 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.
