Trib's one sided view of Ukraine war negotiations not helpful to peace process

 Trib's one sided view of Ukraine war negotiations not helpful to peace process

 

The Chicago Tribune failed to provide its readership with a balanced understanding of the proposed negotiations to end the Ukraine war in its letters section Tuesday. It published four letters all of which opposed the Trump administration’s sensible plan to end the 3 year long war that has largely turned Ukraine into a failed state with no chance of recovering the roughly fifth of its territory on Russia’s border.

‘The US does its best when it stands with allies such as Ukraine’ laments Trump leaving Ukraine and NATO allies out of the initial negotiations. The reality is this is wholly a US proxy war to weaken Russia using Ukraine proxies, a million so far, from doing all the bleeding and dying. The war cannot continue a single day without another $175 billion in US taxpayer treasure which still won’t turn the tide in favor of Ukraine. Trump understands that which is why he’s going head to head with Putin to end it.

‘Don’t reward Russia’ makes the absurd claim that the negotiations should require Russia to cede some of its territory and pay for the restoration of Ukraine. That is non-starter which does nothing to advance a peaceful settlement.

‘Norway is a target’ rehashes Zelensky’s baseless claims an emboldened Russia will seek to conquer NATO allies Poland, the Baltics, even Norway if not stopped in Ukraine. The letter writer and the Chicago Tribune would be hard pressed to find an esteemed historian or political scientist who would support that assertion.

‘Giving store away’ ludicrously proposes Ukraine NATO membership be attached to any peace settlement. That position utterly misunderstands why this war was launched 3 years ago, to keep NATO nukes off Russia’s border from a NATO member Ukraine.  

The Chicago Tribune fails in its mission to be ‘The World’s Greatest Newspaper’ when it prevents a full and balanced discussion of ending a war that has kept the world in fear of nuclear confrontation if not quickly ended on mutually acceptable terms. Come on Chicago Tribune…give peace a chance.

 Walt Zlotow, West Suburban Peace Coalition, Glen Ellyn