Zelensky Changes his Tune on Peace Negotations as Trump Calls Europe’s Bluff
One of the President’s most well-known quotes from his original 2015 presidential run was when he correctly referred to most politicians as being all talk and no action. Washington has been talking a lot about promises they’ve made to the American people over the last several decades, but few politicians have kept their word the way the 47th President has on the border, taxes, and delivering lasting peace agreements as well.
A focal point of Trump’s successful 2024 run was his determination to bring peace to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. The President frequently discussed how the war would not have started if he was the leader, and also said he would deliver a peace deal within 24 hours. The timeframe Trump used was obviously being used to convey the fact that he believed he could get the parties to the negotiating table and reach a lasting agreement between them. The President now appears close to reaching a deal between Zelensky and Putin, with the Ukrainian leader relenting and now expressing a willingness to sign the mineral agreement with the United States that is going to likely become the foundation of a long-term economic and military partnership between the US and Ukraine.
Putin had already expressed a willingness to negotiate a peace deal with Trump and Ukraine, but Zelensky opposed the cease-fire proposed by the President, and the Ukrainian leader was also holding out on signing the mineral agreement he had verbally agreed to. Zelensky was determined to get security guarantees from the US and Europe, and a ceas-fire will also put pressure on him to hold elections that he cannot likely win either. Trump is seeking to form a long-term economic partnership with Ukraine, the mineral agreement is supposed to be the foundation for this new and closer relationship between the countries. The President has also stated that he’s committed to sending military aid to Ukraine as well.
Zelensky has been determined to get his country into NATO for some time, and he wanted security guarantees from the US and Europe if he couldn’t get membership for his nation. Still, while Trump wants a strong and independent Ukraine, the President correctly does not want to risk World War or commit American lives where there is no direct threat to US national security. Zelensky tried to leverage Trump by not signing the proposed mineral agreement last week, and the EU also tried to bluff the US into guaranteeing Ukraine’s security with a recent emergency Summit after the disagreement between the United States and Ukraine.
Trump saw right through Europe’s bluff. While EU leaders talk a good game on Ukraine, these hypocrites were not willing to step up financially when the US temporarily halted aid to Zelenskyafter he childishly refused to sign the Mineral agreement the US and Ukraine had already come to terms on last week. Europe talked a lot and took photos with Zelensky after British Prime Minister Starmer hosted the Ukrainian leader, but European leaders pledged less than 4 billion at this meeting, the money simply wasn’t there. When Trump halted funds to Zelensky and also temporarily stopped providing him with intelligence this week, the Ukranian leader was forced to do what he should have done all along, agree to begin peace negotations. There are also multiple reports that Zelensky is likely to sign the Mineral agreement with the US soon. Trump saw through Zelensky and the EU’s bluff, and he has now set the parties up for the kind of lasting peace deal that can bring the current conflict to an end.
The President campaigned on peace through strength, and that’s what he delivered in his first term, which marked 4 of the most peaceful years in recent history. Trump also facilitated the landmark Abraham Accord agreement as well. While EU leaders talked a good game, Trump knew they weren’t willing to put up the financial or military resources the US already committed to Ukraine, and he is now poised to mediate a peace deal that won’t include the security guarantees that are in not in the US’s interest and would have risked a wider conflict. While the US is committed to a strong and independent Ukraine, America should not be putting our troops on the ground to defend a nation when we have no direct national security interest. Trump’s strength has once again positioned the world to be a more peaceful place.
