Wednesday, 4 December 2024

Can Trump really end the war in Ukraine?

I wonder what Donald Trump thinks is his absolutely top priority for Day One of his presidency. Could it be the war in Ukraine? Even though it seems beyond realistic belief that he can literally stop the fighting on his first day in office. There are just too many other players who will insist on being involved, such as Zelensky and Putin for starters. Zelensky is fast running out of options, so he will want something, anything, from Trump which will save his country from Moscow-domination and give his countrymen and women a future without bombs and missiles. But he can't and won't give in if Trump tells him to hand over all of the Russian-occupied territory without something in return, like Nato membership or at the very least an international security guarantee of some sort. Putin will only listen to Trump if he gets what he wants which is 20 per cent of Ukraine and no Nato membership for Kyiv. Ever! Have Trump and his special envoy to the war, Lt-Gen Keith Kellogg, come up with a formula to please both Zelensky and Putin? It seems highly unlikely. Yet Trump still sounds optimistic that he can broker a deal. If he fails, it will be a huge setback for the new president and a blow to his super-confidence.

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