LOS ANGELES (OC).–Finnish Foreign Minister ElinaValtonen exposed the European Union’s position on ending the Ukraine War, rejecting the idea that Ukraine should surrender sovereign territory to the Russian Federation. Forget about Ukraine President’s Volodymyr Zelensky’s three-and-a-half-year war with the Kremlin, Valtonen expresses the internal position of the EU on any peace talks with Russia. President Donald Trump, who was within 90% of a workable peace deal, has been undermined by the EU, worried that forfeiting land to Russia would encourage Russia’s 72-year-old President Vladimir Putin to invade future EU countries. Valtonen essentially makes peace in Ukraine impossible, with EU officials meeting last week with Zelensky in Paris to discuss a post-war security arrangement. Why discuss a post-war security when the war may never end?
Valtonen’s flawed thinking mirrors that of French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, all of whom oppose Ukraine surrendering any territory to Putin. When President Donald Trump and Putin met in Anchorage, Alaska Aug. 15, they discussed the terms-and-conditions for a future peace deal. Trump has been disappointed with the slow progress toward a peace deal, alternating between blaming Putin and Zelensky. But now that Valtonen exposed the EU position on peace, it’s undeniable that the EU has sabotaged Trump’s peace plans. “Renouncing the right to territorial integrity would mean that, in 2025, we are rewinding our reality back to the time of WW II,” Valtonen told ambassadors at a conference. Trump can no longer blame Putin because the real resistance to a peace deal comes from the EU.
Valtonen’s dealing in fantasy when it comes to Ukraine because they never had 100% sovereignty or territorial integrity with the Russian Federation. Russian troops were in Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk before the Feb. 24, 2022 start of the Ukraine War. So, where is the territorial integrity that Valtonen talks about? “This would have colossal, gruesome consequences for the whole world, the coexistence of nations would not be governed by the jointly agree set of rules, but by ruthlessness of the strongest,” Valtonen said. “This would be anything but peace in the short and long term,” rejecting the ideal of trading land-for-peace. Valtonen’s argument would prolong the death-and-destruction indefinitely for Ukraine, something Zelensky looks like he’s poised to do. Valtonen forgets that the EU is protected by NATO, something Putin won’t challenge.
When it comes to Ukraine, Valtonen and other EU officials don’t realize that they have no NATO protections because they’re not part of the Western Alliance. Zelensy wants the EU to believe that the war protects European democracy, something so preposterous it defies all logic. How could Ukraine protect European democracy when its not part of NATO? Ukraine has been decimated by Russia in three-and-a-half-years of war. How could Valtonen think it’s good for Ukraine to keep the war going indefinitely? Valtonen currently mirrors the thinking inside the EU, taking a selfish approach to the Ukraine War. Every day that goes by, Ukraine loses more infrastructure, sovereign land and human life. How could the EU think that keeping the war going is good for Ukraine? Zelensky fantasizes about one day vanquishing the Russia Federation but how’s that supposed to happen?
When Zelensky opted for war with the Kremlin Feb. 24, 2022, Putin offered to end the conflict if he recognized the indpendendence of Donetsk and Luhansk and Russian sovereignty over Crimea. Zelensy chose war over a political settlement, now finds himself losing more sovereign territory, infrastructure and citizens. How does that help Ukraine’s position? “if parts of Ukraine’s territory or sovereignty were sacrificed in negotiations, we would not have solved the fundamental problem,” Valtonen said. “The Putin problem cannot be solved at Ukraine’s expense. What is Valtonen saying? You can’t negotiate a peace deal with Putin when land is exchanged because it guarantees he’ll move on to other EU countries. Valtonen’s position essentially supports perpetual war with the Kremlin. She’s not thinking clearly about what it takes to end the war.
Slapping Putin with more sanctions will only delay the end to the war, causing Ukraine more destruction and loss of life. What does Valtonen want for the Ukraine War? Let Brussels fund proxy war against the Kremlin by supply Ukraine unending arms-and-cash. Trump wanted Zelensky to negotiate and compromise in good faith to get a realistic peace deal. If you listen to Valtonen and others like EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the war would go on indefinitely. Brussels can’t have it both ways funding perpetual proxy war with the Kremlin and expct that to help Ukraine recover from all its damage. Putin will keep the pressure on as long as EU members reject any realistic negotiation-and-compromise. How does it help Ukraine to keep the war going indefinitely? Trump has it right that Zelensky must cut his losses, end the war and start rebuilding Ukraine.
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.
