The media in Russia are celebrating Trump‘s proposal for peace negotiations on Ukraine (eg, Newsweek, the Independent, the Moscow Times), and view this as positive and even as a victory. I suppose their view is an example of reverse psychology given the many negative comments in Europe and in Ukraine.
I suppose the Russian president will fear the outcome of such peace negotiations because he gained (very) little (eg, Ukraine territory), and suffered a (very) high number of Russian casualties, of up to 1,000,000 (Wiki). I doubt that Russian voters will either forget or forgive that unnecessary loss of life.
Hence, these recent Reuters comments:
“Western intelligence, European leaders and former U.S. president Joe Biden have repeatedly asserted that they do not think Putin really wants peace, though U.S. President Donald Trump says he does think Putin is serious.”
Source: Reuters, 18 February 2025, Putin is serious about negotiating peace in Ukraine, Kremlin says
The Russian and Western views are both valid once you read – and digest – this Russian comment:
“President Putin has been repeating his words about his readiness for peace talks from the very beginning,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. “The main thing for us is to achieve our goals. And, of course, we prefer peaceful means to achieve our goals.”
Source: Reuters, 18 February 2025, Putin is serious about negotiating peace in Ukraine, Kremlin says
From a risk management view, such peace negotiations will (only) result in losers; some more and others less. Hence, no zero-sum game. Long negotiations thus seem likely but Trump will not accept that. Perhaps, the Ukraine president is right: Putin pretends to want peace because he’s “afraid of you”.
Russia will never be able “to achieve our goals”. Nevertheless, a Russian solution is – ultimately – in the next Ukrainian presidential election. Hence, the Russian demand for such an election (eg, Carnegie). The U.S. support for such an election (Reuters) looks like a threat but that is (very) premature.
By not inviting European participants (eg, France, Germany, UK), Trump might have the best chance of “winning” such peace negotiations while risking the – temporary ?? – alienation of American allies and friends in Europe and in the UK. Latter risk has already been on my mind for several days.
“He noted that the summit clarified many issues. “This America under Trump lives on another planet,” he remarked, adding that “even Republican senators speak very cautiously in public because they fear their president.”
A quote by Christoph Heusgen (b.1955), chairman of the Munich Security Conference
Different Planet (2020) by Lion Babe
duo, lyrics, video, Wiki-duo, Wiki-song
[Chorus]
Tell me how I feel so deep
I must be from a different planet, must be from a different planet
Tell me why they fear unique
I must be from a different planet, must be from a different planet
Note: all markings (bold, italic, underlining) by LO unless in quotes or stated otherwise.
0 Comments