Trump Zelensky dust up was policy, not theater

 Much of what President Trump told Ukraine President Zelensky in their contentious public meeting Friday was valid...and needed to be said to achieve peace. A sampling of the truths Trump told Zelensky:

 

1. Ukraine must seek immediate ceasefire not more war

2. Why? The war is lost with Zelensky having “no more cards to play” to achieve his unrealistic, indeed delusional war objectives.

3. Only the US can achieve war's end thru a negotiated peace with Russia. What Trump omitted is that this has always been America’s war simply using Ukraine proxies to fight it.

4. Ukraine is running out of soldiers, relying on old men and conscripts snatched off the street to fight a lost cause.

5. Zelensky could start WWIII with his efforts to keep war going by attacking deep into Russia.

 

Trump’s comments signaled a near complete break with predecessor Biden’s embrace of the weak, compliant Zelensky to fight the war to weaken Russia and keep it out of the European political economy.

 

Trump knows the war has nothing to do with Europe or America’s national security interests and must be ended.

 

If the Oval Office dustup offends people who want this war to continue indefinitely, possibly going nuclear, then by all means be outraged. But if you want to end this lost war utterly destroying Ukraine so US can weaken Russia, then join the peace community in supporting Trump's peace initiative.

 

This war has put peoplekind at risk of nuclear annihilation for all 1,100 days since it began. That must end.

 

Walt Zlotow, West Suburban Peace Coalition, Glen Ellyn IL