DePetris always nibbles around the edges of the US proxy war with Russia in Ukraine

 DePetris always nibbles around the edges of the US proxy war with Russia in Ukraine

 

Daniel DePetris’ Chicago Tribune op-ed ‘Vladimir Putin’s conduct causes Donald Trump to have a change of heart on Ukraine’ said nothing of value till the last sentence. “Given the importance Putin places on winning the war for Russia’s overall security, none of us should bet the farm on it (ending the war)."

 

Everything DePetris offered prior was nonsense. He claims that Trump has become so frustrated with Putin continuing the war instead of complying with Trump’s demand for a negotiated settlement that he will go on the offensive. And what is that offensive? Just $10 billion in weapons Trump will sell to NATO countries to give to Ukraine. And oh yes, massive sanctions if Putin doesn’t negotiate an end to the war in 50 days.

 

Any knowledgeable journalist studying this war knows Trumps pushback is preposterous. It’s not an offensive, it’s a capitulation. Trump knows he has nothing to offer for victory except American blood or nuclear weapons, both of which are non-starters….we hope.

 

Yet DePetris offers this fantasy, “Europe, Ukraine and many influential foreign policy thinkers in Washington are obviously thrilled with Trump’s change of course. Yet the bigger question is whether these policy changes will do anything to change Putin’s strategic calculus on the war or make him more amenable to softening his maximalist position.”

 

Finally, in closing, DePetris comes back to a semblance of reality warning “none of us should bet the ranch on it.”

 

Don’t worry, Mr. DePetris, none of us realists will.

 

Walt Zlotow, West Suburban Peace Coalition, Glen Ellyn IL