With the second round of talks complete, 72-year-old Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov demanded that Ukraine itemize its lethal weapons given to it by the U.S. and NATO. Ukraine’s 44-year-old President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia’s demands were unacceptable, continuing the conflict into the indefinite future. Speaking to Al Jazeera today, Lavov said he wanted a complete list of lethal weapons to determine which ones cross the line for Russian national security. Asking for “specific types of strike weapons must be identified which will never be deployed in Ukraine and will not be created,” Lavrov said, knowing that Zelensky and his leadership team would never accept conditions that compromise Ukraine’s security. Lavrov said that the Kremlin wanted official recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk plus legal recognition that Crimea was legally part of the Russian state.
Entering into negotiations both sides will have their most extreme demands, certainly not what would wind up in any ceasefire or peace negotiation. Western media has focused on Putin’s mental health, not whether, as leader of the Russian Federation, he had a right of concern for Russian national security. If you listen to Western powers, they see nothing wrong with Ukraine having any type of offensive and defensive weapons short of nukes that they apparently gave up when the Soviet Union disbanded Dec. 25. 1991. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Lavov think that Ukraine still has nukes that must be dismantled. Sound familiar? Sounds like the late Gen. Colin Powell when he told the U.N. Security Council Feb. 5, 2003 that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. On March 20, 2003 the U.S. went to war against Saddam, opening up the floodgates of Islamic terrorism for years to come.
Whatever Putin’s concerns about Ukraine’s U.S.-and-NATO supplied lethal weapons, Zelensky isn’t prepared to give anything up or, for than matter, let Russia serve as an overlord to their independent country. So when it comes to coming up with some kind of negotiation on security, both sides ask for the moon but will get something less. Zelensky must decide whether continuing a destructive war to show the world that he can defend himself against the mighty Russian Federation is worth the destruction and loss of Ukrainina lives. Ukrainian officials hope that Putin’s generals or the public assassinate Putin, allowing Ukraine to live in peace. Whether that happens of not is anyone’s guess. Zelensky can’t count on unexpected events to stop the bloody war that threatens to lay waste to Ukraine. Going to the peace table is never easy but could save lives and preserve what’s left of Ukraine.
Zelensky has received no troops from the U.S. or any NATO country, refusing to put boots on the ground to push Putin back inside his own border. Biden has told Zelensky that the U.S. has his back but refuses to get into a shooting match with the Russian Federation. Ukraine parliament member Oleksandra Ustinova blasted Biden’s March 1 State-of-the-Union speech for not endorsing a “no-fly-zones,” asking the U.S. for air cover from Putin’s aerial assault. Ustinova called Biden’s speech a “total disappointment,” because a “no-fly-zone” was not on the table. Ustinova complained about the unthinkable loss of life especially children from Putin’s aerial bombardment. While Zelensky is now the West’s heroic poster-boy, he’s been seeking NATO membership since taking office May 20, 2019. If Zelensky got his way, the U.S. would be at war with the Russian Federation.
Zelensky isn’t concerned about the potential loss of blood-and-treasure to the U.S. military, only recently exited Afghanistan Aug. 31, 2021 after a 20-year war. Apart from any prior U.S. wars, setting up a no-fly-zone, having U.S. fighter jets shoot down Russian Migs would start of WW III. Putin and Lavrov said the put the Russian nuclear system on “high alert” Feb. 27. Zelensky and Ustinova aren’t concerned about Putin employing tactical nukes and Western forces, they’re concerned about returning Crimea and now Donetsk and Luhansk back to Ukraine. U.S. and EU officials commend Zelensky on fighting for Ukraine’s survival against a superior enemy but there’s no effort to get both parties to the peace table to start negotiating a ceasefire. Zelensky, and Kiev’s 50-year-old Mayor, Vitali Klitschko, who led the Feb. 22, 2014 Kiev coup, think they can beat the Russian Federation in armed conflict.
Whatever hatred in the U.S., U.N., EU or NATO against P utin, Zelensky should be pushed to the peace table to find common ground for a ceasefire and eventual peace settlement. No matter how irrational Russia’s demands, the peace process isn’t easy, must begin somewhere. As long as Zelensky and his 40-year-old Foreign Minister Kuleba chose to duke it out of Russia, Ukraine’s citizens and population will suffer. Zelensky gets a green light to fight Putin to the death but doesn’t take into account of Ukraine and its civilian population. Zelensky didn’t help the peace process applying or EU membership, even if it’s largely symbolic. Zelensky and Klitscho’s fight-to-the-death policy is about to be tested when the Russian army starts hunting them down when they arrive in Kiev. Zelensky should place the highest priority on a ceasefire and peace talks.
