We gave the Ukrainians a shot to defeat the Russians on the battlefield. They did their best, but all they could achieve was a stalemate. The US does not have the stomach to fund the war indefinitely and the Ukrainians have lost the cream of their manpower. All that is left is a negotiated settlement. What Putin will achieve by this long term is the burning hatred of the Ukrainians for the Russians which will be a legacy passed down the generations, and a probable low level guerilla war. Putin will not live forever, and it will be interesting to see what his successors do when it comes to paying the price to keep the part of Ukraine they have conquered.
Of course if our big talking NATO allies wish to fund the war going forward, have at it! I doubt they will, since they will not pay for an adequate defense for themselves, let alone Ukraine.
Seems to me, the best thing that could happen to the people of Ukraine and Russia would be the quick disappearance from the scene of both Zelensky and Putin.
Elections in Ukraine are reportedly a requirement for the peace negotiations … I doubt Zelenskyy had the power to influence elections like his Russian counterpart has demonstrated.
Back when I worked in Yellowstone in 2012, we had a lot of eastern European cultural exchange university student workers. They typically would work the summer and get.a 3 month visa after wards to travel the country and see all they wanted to see or something along those lines.
It was interesting to hear from them what they thought of the Russians. They hadn’t forgotten what they had done to their grandparents in WWII. My Czech friend put it this way:
“When the Germans invaded, they would politely greet your sister and pay for things that they needed; when the Russians came they raped your sister and pillaged whatever they wanted”
The Ukrainians in particular haven’t forgotten the Holodomor.
The only thing the Russians have done is remind this new generation why the older generations hate the Russians so much.
I think negotiations are long overdue and I, reflexively support the Ukrainians over the Russians. After all, the Russians started it. And since it was a land grab, I’d open negotiations with Russia ceding territory, starting with Königsberg to Poland. Talks can start from there. It won’t work and there are reasons I’m not a diplomat.
For what it’s worth: I think wading into the “rights and wrongs” of the Ukraine-Russia conflict are as likely to generate light and understanding as trying to sort out who the “bad guy” is in the Balkans (or Israel).
If Trump and Rubio can induce (or coerce) each side into some kind of grudging acceptance, that would be a win.
Hoping to plant the seeds of understanding and affection between Ukrainians and Russians? I wouldn’t put all my eggs in that basket.