NOW is the time to double down behind Ukraine
He has given Putin the benefit of every doubt, and Putin has laughed in his face.
Is the bromance over? Is President Donald J. Trump’s infatuation with Russian President Vladimir Putin at a breaking point?
Let’s hope Trump has finally smelled the coffee and realized, like every other democratic leader, that the former KGB officer is a ruthless dictator who can’t be trusted.
Sunday night, on Truth Social, Trump posted that he always had a good relationship with Putin, “but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY!”
This followed an unusually heavy air attack on Ukraine, one of the worst since Russia attacked its neighbor in February 2022.
In response, and Trump will not like this, the Kremlin said Trump’s response was an “emotional overload.” Dear Leader hates criticism.
The entire democratic world has held Russia responsible for the war, and the West, led by the U.S. under President Joe Biden, has supported Ukraine, and its president Volodymyr Zelensky.
Among democratic leaders, Trump stood largely alone in his belief that Putin wants peace, even though just last month he suspected Putin might be stringing him along.
If Putin is making a fool of him in his role as peacemaker, which seems obvious, then. . .
Well, then what?
On some occasions Trump threatened to increase sanctions on Russia, crippling its ability to sell oil, which is about its only asset.
On other occasions he (and Vice President JD Vance) have threatened to “walk away.”
Walk away from what? From peace efforts? From Ukraine? They leave it unclear because they are conflicted about Ukraine, having mostly bought the false Russian narrative.
Meanwhile, a bipartisan group of 81 senators are calling for increasing sanctions against Russia.
When was the last time so many senators agreed on anything?
In a related development, Germany is easing restrictions on arms it gives Ukraine, allowing it to hit targets in Russia.
This is something the Allies should have done long ago, instead of allowing Russia a free hand to strike Ukraine without retaliation on its own soil.
Trump seems desperate to be seen as a peacemaker. He has given Putin the benefit of every doubt, and Putin has laughed in his face. Putin has made a fool of him. Many of us saw that all along. Trump now seems to be realizing it.
Now is the time for the other way to peace — by having Ukraine push Russians back across the border.
I hear some of the right-wing faux doves laughing at the prospect of Ukraine winning on the battlefield. Ukraine can’t beat powerful Russia, they tell me.
Like the U.S. couldn’t beat powerful Britain? I reply.
The Ukrainians are spending their blood for freedom. We have funded them with money and arms. What Russia thought would be a three-week campaign has gone three years. They have taken massive losses, even called on North Korea for troops. Russia is not on a glide path to victory.
Ukraine has proved its unstinting valor. This is the moment for the West to increase arms shipments, and to cripple the Russian economy, and force Putin to sue for peace. It could be done, if we had strong leadership from President Trump.
