Summary
President Trump is trying to negotiate peace in Ukraine, but his approach is misguided and unfair to Ukraine. He has excluded Ukraine and NATO from talks, blamed Ukraine for the war, and made demands that undermine U.S. support for a free and independent Ukraine. This shift in policy goes against America’s values and interests, and it is essential for Republican leaders to challenge Trump’s actions.
Highlights
id855661351
Mr. Trump has long displayed an open admiration for the bullies of the world and a particular affinity for Vladimir Putin, and he long ago developed an antipathy for Mr. Zelensky, who was the reason for Mr. Trump’s first impeachment in his first term. But the facts are that Mr. Zelensky is not a dictator, and Mr. Putin is. And that is with whom Mr. Trump has now aligned our country.
id855661387
The volume of misinformation and betrayal here is breathtaking. The very act of discussing an end to the war without the presence of Ukraine or any other ally at the table violates the fundamental principle the United States has proclaimed from the outset of its support for Ukraine, “nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.” That alone is a huge victory for Mr. Putin, who portrays his war as a struggle for spheres of influence among great powers rather than the brutal land grab that it is.