Vice President JD Vance said Sunday that the White House is working on scheduling a trilateral meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. This is good news.<\/b>
\nVice President JD Vance said Sunday that the White House is working on scheduling a trilateral meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. This is good news.
Trump obviously is frustrated with the situation in Ukraine, a war he\u2019s saddened by and wants desperately to end.
Early in his term, he took out that frustration on Zelensky, culminating in that Oval Office UFC match.
But then the president rightly noted that Putin was \u201ctapping us along\u201d \u2014 that the dictator offered smiles and compliments then targeted civilians with missiles and drones.
Relations between Ukraine and Trump improved. Ukraine signed an agreement with the US to set up a reconstruction investment fund, and Europe agreed to pay for US weapons on behalf of the country. Trump gave Putin 50 days to come to the table, then shortened the deadline to this past Friday when the bombardment didn\u2019t stop.
Then . . . the record scratch.
On the day of the deadline, rather than hit Russia with new sanctions, Trump agreed to meet Putin face-to-face, this Friday in Alaska.
What changed? Some reporting suggests that Putin has dropped his requirement of regime change in Ukraine. But he\u2019s still demanding one-third of the country, including land he\u2019s been unable to take on the battlefield, such as Ukraine\u2019s \u201cfortress belt\u201d that\u2019s been blocking Russian advances since 2014.
More likely is that Trump, facing more months of killing even with sanctions, jumped at the chance when his envoy, Steve Witkoff, said Putin was open to discussion.
But any agreement forged between Trump and Putin in Alaska means nothing if Ukraine isn\u2019t involved.
First, despite the claims of anti-Ukraine podcasters, Putin is not coming into this meeting from a position of strength. His vaunted \u201csummer offensive\u201d is inching along, with little hope of winning the areas Putin\u2019s demanding as part of a deal.
By sheer population advantage, Russia can grind out some progress, but at a tremendous cost: 250,000 soldiers dead, 1 million casualties so far. The Russian economy is fraying.
Ukraine has pulled off some stunning victories \u2014 including using a drone ploy to destroy long-range bombers on the other side of Russia.
Putin is in no position to dictate terms. He has not vanquished his foes; they humiliated him.
Ah, the podcasters continue, but this would only be possible with US weapons.
Certainly, American arms have played a key role, but it is not Americans who are dying. Ukraine has defended itself while hobbling a geopolitical foe and making the world a safer place.
Think of how emboldened and dangerous Putin would have been had Ukraine capitulated quickly. Where would he be looking now? The Balkans? Eastern Europe?
How many more battles would the United States be facing? The Ukrainians don\u2019t owe us; we owe them a debt of gratitude.
For these reasons and more, a treaty cannot be imposed upon the people of Ukraine. They will fight on. Even if American arms dry up, the Europeans will help.
They understand that Putin can\u2019t be trusted: Any agreement that doesn\u2019t include hard provisions for Ukraine\u2019s future security \u2014 and automatic, severe sanctions if Moscow doesn\u2019t live up to its word \u2014 just gives time for Russia to rearm, regroup and then invade again.
All that said, the fighting is a horrifically destructive near-stalemate, and Ukraine may need to make concessions. But these are concessions Kyiv must help negotiate.
Don\u2019t let Alaska go down as one of history\u2019s notorious giveaways. Make sure Ukraine has a seat at the table, Mr. President; it\u2019s the only way to get to a fair and lasting peace.<\/p>\n