Posted on 08/16/2025 4:20:57 PM PDT by Mariner
WASHINGTON/MOSCOW/KYIV (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Ukraine should make a deal to end the war with Russia because "Russia is a very big power, and they're not", after a summit where Vladimir Putin was reported to have demanded more Ukrainian land.
After the two leaders met in Alaska on Friday, Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that Putin had offered to freeze most front lines if Kyiv ceded all of Donetsk, the industrial region that is one of Moscow's main targets, a source familiar with the matter said.
Zelenskiy rejected the demand, the source said. Russia already controls a fifth of Ukraine, including about three-quarters of Donetsk province, which it first entered in 2014.
Trump also said he agreed with Putin that a peace deal should be sought without the prior ceasefire that Ukraine and its European allies had demanded. That was a change from his position before the summit, when he said he would not be happy unless a ceasefire was agreed on.
(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...
European leaders are stating we're real close to genuine peace.
Only Z and the western neocon dead enders are opposed. Z flat out said no.
From this point I see reduced US support for Ukraine and a gradual fade from Europe.
I guess they are determined to die in glorious fashion.
Its funny how Obama can hand over Crimea to Putin and NO ONE says a word, its funny how Biden can tell Putin “Hey its OK, have a small incursion into Ukraine” and its all good, but Trump tries to broker peace and its OMG HORRIBLE PUTIN WANTS SOME LAND..yeah he already has it..you cant always get what you want but you make a deal that ends a war that Ukraine cannot win..unfortunately Putin holds the cards, he started it and he can end it
Does Z have a bunker picked out for his dramatic exit?
Excellent comment.
It’s funny how Russia couldn’t take the entire country in 3 years. We invaded Europe in June, and had it wrapped up by the next May. Russia can’t go 500 miles in three years? That’s pathetic.
This event in human history has been nothing but a meat grinder, I don’t even concern myself with it anymore. America has more important issues than funding NATO and the previous administrations goals. Truly cut the money flow off from America, let Europe and Russia sort it out.
(win..unfortunately Putin holds the cards, he started it and he can end it)
Actually Biden started it this time.
Yes, but we don’t really care. We just want an end to this useless and costly death and destruction.
“Russia can’t go 500 miles in three years? That’s pathetic.”
Russia is not fighting a war to win. They are fighting a war to take over parts that have worth while not destroying it. In WW II everything was in the sights and no one cared if factories, roads or transportation items were taken out because they were. Putin’s main desire was to take over not take out. Little more care needed.
wy69
What’s pathetic is Zelensky can’t take back his territory from Ruzzia.
Biden begged Putin to invade so he could have an excuse for rising gas prices
“ We invaded Europe in June, and had it wrapped up by the next May.”
If the US had not invaded France in June 1944 the Red Army would have been on the English Channel by June 1945.
WW II was won by the methodical destruction of German combat power starting at Stalingrad and ending in Berlin. It took all of 1943, all of 1944, and four months in 1945.
The Western front helped things along a bit but didn’t decide the outcome.
“ Its funny how Obama can hand over Crimea to Putin”
Was it as funny as when Khrushchev handed Russian Crimea to Ukraine in 1954? Or when Stalin handed 1/3 of Poland to Ukraine in 1945?
You’re responding to Vermont Lt’s comment at #5, not mine.
Italicized comments tend to be those to which are being responded. It’s been pretty standard on FR since the beginning. 😏
“It’s funny how Russia couldn’t take the entire country in 3 years. We invaded Europe in June, and had it wrapped up by the next May. Russia can’t go 500 miles in three years? That’s pathetic.”
What Russia is trying to do is to win the war with Ukraine without destroying all of Ukraine.
This means systematically killing off the troops of the Ukrainian army, kilometer by kilometer, along the Ukrainian front lines.
Zelensky isn’t going to send all of the men aged 18-65 off in one fell swoop to the front lines so Putin can quickly kill them all off with a thousand kilometers-long artillery barrage.
The technology of war has changed. Putin can’t use Patton-style tank thrusts because Javelins can easily take out tanks. Hitler’s forces didn’t have Javelins. Putin has to rely on artillery barrages, glide bomb, and drone attacks.
It is called an SMO, something the West can not grasp. His other 1.4 million troops are guarding the vast borders in case NATO ( or the West) does something really,really stupid.
Peace through strenth brought this about. And Biden’a weakness caused the War. Hillary or Kamala would have led to Nuclear War.
I’ve been one of those who has been urging Trump to just walk away ever since the little fella was frog marched out of the White House without his Happy Meal.
What I JUST realized is that Trump HAS WALKED AWAY.
He got the Euroweenies to pony up for keeping the Ukraine in weapons.
He repeated that three times in the Oval Office the other day.
And yesterday he pretty much closed the door on the further sanctions that Linda Graham has been pushing for by saying he was satisfied with the outline of the agreement that he and Putin had come up with.
After the way Zelensky disrespected him at the White House Trump was not going to do much haggling as whatever skin he had in the game had already been taken off the table.
There won’t be much to talk about on Monday.
Trump says to Zelensky this is the best you are ever going to get, take it or leave it, but you better take it because you aren’t holding any cards.
The USSR would have been overun without our Lend- Lease.
“Russia is not fighting a war to win. They are fighting a war to take over parts that have worth while not destroying it.”
I’ve been a strong advocate for a Russian victory and a return to normalcy in the commodity markets, and bilateral relations.
However, I have to call bullsh!t on the above.
Russia was flummoxed and slowed by western weapons, tactics and intelligence/targeting.
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