“It is up to Ukraine alone to define the conditions for negotiation with Russia.” The above is a quote this week from a speech by French President Macron, arguably the least “maximalist” of Western leaders about the war. Every Western politician and just about every pundit repeats the essence of Macron’s line. We are told that NATO cannot and must not impose peace terms that Ukraine will not accept.
As is commonly said, the first casualty of war is the truth. We have read numerous times that Putin is crazy, Putin is dying, Russia wants to reconstitute their empire, Moldavia is next, Russia was not provoked, NATO is innocent, rape is Russian military policy and has been weaponized, Ukraine is winning, Zelensky is the greatest European leader of our time, etc. Since this has morphed into a proxy war of the USA vs Russia, the decision to end/settle it resides in Washington, not Kiev, to reduce funding and eliminate the sanctions. Biden has voiced a concern for Putin's exit strategy. Since many things in life are subject to an equal and opposite reaction, maybe some thought should be given to our exit strategy as well. This thing feels as if it is spiraling out of control.
As is commonly said, the first casualty of war is the truth. We have read numerous times that Putin is crazy, Putin is dying, Russia wants to reconstitute their empire, Moldavia is next, Russia was not provoked, NATO is innocent, rape is Russian military policy and has been weaponized, Ukraine is winning, Zelensky is the greatest European leader of our time, etc. Since this has morphed into a proxy war of the USA vs Russia, the decision to end/settle it resides in Washington, not Kiev, to reduce funding and eliminate the sanctions. Biden has voiced a concern for Putin's exit strategy. Since many things in life are subject to an equal and opposite reaction, maybe some thought should be given to our exit strategy as well. This thing feels as if it is spiraling out of control.