President Donald Trump’s recent “pause” on both military and critical intelligence aid to Ukraine seems clearly a prelude to a more permanent withdrawal of support for a victim of unprovoked aggression. Now Trump seemingly seeks to appease his mutual admirer and long-time U.S. sworn enemy, Vladimir Putin, by conceding to Russian demands prior to peace talks. Humiliated and verbally berated in the Oval Office, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy most likely can’t agree to peace terms that entailed Russian control of 20 percent of Ukrainian territory and refusal to return its kidnapped children, together with Ukrainian exclusion from NATO membership.
And what lie do Trump-subservient members of the GOP proclaim? Like Trump, that Zelenskyy isn’t interested in peace? While absolving Putin of his murderous invasion. Putin, who Trump described as “a genius,” when civilians were being tortured and killed in Bucha.
Could one imagine the reaction of Americans if, after Pearl Harbor, Winston Churchill had urged President Franklin Roosevelt to negotiate with the Japanese rather than welcome the U.S. to the battle for democracy’s survival? But now Trump demands that Ukraine ignore Russian treachery and trust in the efficacy of negotiations.
All Americans should heed the recent words of German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock: “We can never accept a reversal of perpetrator and victim.”
Dave Witham
Bangor
