Posted on 03/14/2025 6:58:37 AM PDT by karpov
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that if Russia rejected the 30-day U.S.-brokered cease-fire that Ukraine had accepted, “we’ll unfortunately know what the impediment is to peace here.” We knew that before, but now we know even on Mr. Rubio’s terms, as the Kremlin on Thursday said nyet.
President Trump’s envoy, Steven Witkoff, is visiting Moscow, and the Kremlin welcomed him with the back of its hand. Yuri Ushakov, a close adviser to Vladimir Putin, told Russian television that a cease-fire would be “nothing other than a temporary breather for Ukrainian soldiers.” He added, “our goal is long-term peaceful resolution. . . . Steps that imitate peaceful actions are not needed.”
Mr. Putin emerged later to sand the rougher edges off Mr. Ushakov, saying he really wants peace. But it must be a “lasting peace,” and not merely a temporary cease-fire. Mr. Putin said there are “nuances” that require “painstaking research,” and those no doubt include conditions as part of a cease-fire that limit Ukraine’s ability to defend itself.
In other words, Mr. Putin wants the killing to continue until he gets closer to achieving his war aim of subjugating Ukraine.
And killing he continues to do. Since Washington and Kyiv agreed on the cease-fire Tuesday, Russia has launched at least 250 drones and four ballistic missiles targeting Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities. Russian forces are also continuing to advance on Ukrainian positions in the Kursk region in Russia that Ukraine had taken in a surprise offensive in August.
The Russians on Wednesday took the town of Sudzha, and Mr. Putin donned fatigues and visited the region to cheer on his troops. Russia claims to have captured several hundred Ukrainian soldiers, and videos circulating on social media appear to show Russians executing unarmed Ukrainian prisoners.
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
Russia started the war by invading, and it is responsible for its continuation. If Trump wants to stop the war he should pressuring Russia with the prospect of further sanctions and arms shipments to Ukraine.
This is all part of the negotiation. First, Trump had to beat Zelensky into submission. Now he’ll ratchet up the pressure on Putin until he cracks.
Both sides will have to give, and US diplomats will shuttle back and forth get both sides to move off their starting positions. Putin's positions are considerably more vague in some respects than they were, which is actually progress.
“our goal is long-term peaceful resolution. . . . Steps that imitate peaceful actions are not needed.”
That is a reasonable response.
I’d say this is ALL scripted. Trump knew Putin’s current reaction, when he “negotiated” it with Zelenskysky. The result is, it paints Trump’s position regarding the war without unduly exposing an alignment in opposition to NATO in Ukraine.
I’m a bit cynical, but not expecting any movement on this until the battle in Kursk is completed. If Ukraine is in a tactical bind there, I can see Russia wanting to press that advantage to the max before any cease fire, imo.
“That is a reasonable response.”
It is a very dishonest one. Putin could have a just peace today - by withdrawing. He won’t and that won’t be the final negotiated solution, but Putin is totally in the wrong.
draw the DMZ on a map and get on with it
russia is not leaving
they already control the richest mineral deposits in the east
Z-Boy listened to Obama stoooges and the EU (who have no cards) all the while snorting coke and letting his soldiers get slaughtered.
he should have signed the mineral rights deal. The war would have ended then
Putin is not leaving eastern Ukraine.
The only thing left to do is sign the mineral rights deal with the US and draw the DMZ.
they already control the richest mineral deposits in the east
So much about this being about NATO expansion. Russia wanted the mineral rich Donbas.
Only people with cards should be at the table. Kibitzers should stay behind he velvet rope.
It is a certainty that President Trump anticipated this response and has his response available and ready.
What it will be is not known. There are several possibilities. Once the Continueing Resolution passes (with the help of Chuck Schumer) Trump will have considerable more flexibility.
Why is Trump investing so much of his reputation and political capital in Ukraine?
He opposed this war, but now seems to be taking over responsibility for a problem entirely caused by Democrats, Joe Biden and his enemies in the US deep-state
Moreover, Russia has the military advantage and it will next to impossible to “talk them into” any agreement where they have to give up something.
It seems to be a high risk, low reward scenario for Trump.
How dare Putin not accept the agreement worked out between the US and Ukraine without him. Give Ukraine even longer range missiles made in the USA. Put US peacekeepers on the ground.
Why would Russia withdraw? It has already conquered sizable chunk of Ukraine. And advancing more daily. Putin has the cards. Not Ukraine.
Remember when the ...Semi honest Wall Street Journal...was respectable
I’m perfectly happy if Trump ends the war asap. But if Russia just wants to continue for battlefield gains, there is only one useful response.
Elementary Dr Watson!
Trump does not want to send more money to Ukraine, with borrowed money. And Trump does not want to be blamed for killing more Ukes. Without USA help, Ukraine will be demolished by Russia.
Trump has no equivalent pressure to use on Putin, and Putin know it.
Please read what I wrote, I KNOW he won’t withdraw. But the idea that he CANNOT is ridiculous. My point is that a just peace is extremely available - if Putin would agree.
He won’t, as I noted: “He won’t and that won’t be the final negotiated solution, but Putin is totally in the wrong.”
there is not doubt about who is in the wrong, but negotiations won’t be about right or wrong. Unless Putin insists on taking more of Ukraine, in which case he might find Trump making deals Putin won’t like.
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