Russia/Ukraine conflict has been going on for years and just last year we were promised if Donald the Orange was elected he would end it on Day One….
Now we had a deal brewing to end it and Donny was all a tither about his plan….then over the weekend things went from thumbs up to in the crapper….or so the story goes.
American and Ukrainian officials met in Geneva on Sunday to discuss a new draft of the US proposal to end the war on Ukraine, while President Trump criticized Ukraine and his administration pushed back against charges that it’s really Russia’s plan. At the talks, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that progress had been made, the Washington Post reports. “We’ve had probably the most productive and meaningful meeting so far in this entire process,” he said, adding that changes have been made to the plan. Despite the president’s earlier complaint, Rubio said Trump is now pleased with the way the talks are going, per the BBC. Developments include:
- Trump’s post: As the talks began, Trump reissued a criticism of Ukraine’s leaders, per the New York Times, posting in all caps that “Ukraine’s ‘leadership’ has expressed zero gratitude for our efforts.” He also criticized Joe Biden and European nations, but not Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky answered a few hours later, posting, “We are grateful for everything that America and President Trump are doing for security, and we keep working as constructively as possible.”
- Russia’s role: Ukraine was not involved in drafting the plan presented by the US, but there are accusations that Russia was. A group of senators who were in Canada for a security conference on Saturday said Rubio had told them on the phone that the drafting of the plan was not led by the US, per the AP. “It is essentially the wish list of the Russians,” Independent Sen. Angus King said. Republican Sen. Mike Rounds, who also was on the call, said: “It is not our recommendation. It is not our peace plan.”
- Administration answers: “The peace proposal was authored by the US. It is offered as a strong framework for ongoing negotiations,” Rubio posted later on X. A State Department spokesman called the senators’ account “blatantly false,” and White House officials said the plan “was authored by the United States, with input from both the Russians and Ukrainians.”
- Democratic opposition: Sen. Mark Warner ripped the Trump plan on ABC News’ This Week, saying that it looks like a list of “Russian talking points,” per the Post. “It would make Neville Chamberlain’s giving in to Hitler—the outset of World War II—look strong in comparison,” he added, per the Hill. The US plan reportedly would require Ukraine to reduce its military, surrender territory, and bar NATO troops from the country.
- Zelensky’s appeal: The president wrote a lengthy social media post that said Russia started the war and refuses to stop it, warning other nations could face its aggression next. In addition to thanking Trump and the American people, Zelensky expressed gratitude to the European and G20 nations that have provided assistance, per the BBC. He then added: “It is important not to forget the main goal—to stop Russia’s war and prevent it from ever igniting again. And to achieve that, peace must be dignified.”
So Day One slipping away yet again…..
But not to worry the meetings will go on….and on…..and on….
I Read, I Write, You Know
“lego ergo scribo”
Trump was called out for using ‘Putin’s Agenda’ for the so-called peace plan. He backtracked, then seemed to have no clue what to do next. I feel that nobody outside of Ukraine and Russia actually wants the war to end. They want to see Russia bled dry trying to take the rest of the country. That’s good for arms sales, and also good for reducing Russia’s military capability.
Best wishes, Pete.
Same plan for the Cold War just tactics are changed. chuq
One of the biggest problems with this whole administration is that no one actually seems to be in charge. No one seems to be coordinating the actions of the various persons involved. Rubio goes off half-cocked allegedly claiming that the “peace deal” was largely drawn up by Putin. Then someone at the WH realizes this is a PR disaster and now Rubio has to scramble to try to deny he said what he said.
Nobody seems to be in charge. Nobody seems to be acting to coordinate anything. Various individuals are more or less “going rogue” and spouting off whatever nonsense they feel like saying. And the only thing resembling a coordinated application of policy seems to be Trump doing his late night, all caps rage posts while he’s sitting on the toilet at 2 AM constipated from his diet of cheeseburgers and diet coke.
one of the biggest problems is that the one who should be in charge is being manipulated like a sock puppet, and the folks doing the manipulation are doing a very good very bad job of it. We assume that because he is President he’s running things. Not by a long shot. I have this image of him drifting off to sleep and someone repeating orders into his ears…’kill the wabbit kill the wabbit kill the wabbit…”
Judy Looney Tunes analogy….well done chuq
Amateurs….and it shows chuq
I can’t help but compare…. if a country invaded us would we settle all the killing by surrendering to the invader a piece of America? Funny how we Americans perceive foriegn wars as some sort of “inevitable historical process” that always happens “over there”…. but it’s ok for us to fight to the death for “freedom”. Way too many nations (including us) fear Russia because it has nukes. There are work-arounds.
We would not accept that….but t5hat said if there was no chance of ending the death and destruction without it what would we do? In the old days we had diplomats and that was in their job description….with Little Marco those days are gone. chuq
I read a book by a Journalist who travelled around the perimeter of Russia, looking at their relationship with every single country they touch…and it is bad. Russia is such an aggressor, for no reason that there system of government keeps their people down by always fighting with someone else. Shocking how poorly the people there lived nd they put up with it
Russia has always had a huge chip on their shoulder and they do enjoy being a bully….I guess that is why Putin and Donny can find common ground. chuq