No, Mr. President, You Can’t Dictate Ukraine’s Destiny

In his misguided, pro-Russian style, President Donald J. Trump declared this week that despite President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s hopefulness ahead of their meeting in Florida tomorrow he has the final word on Ukraine’s peace plan.

While Zelenskyy said his 20-point peace plan is 90% ready, Trump poured cold water on his optimism by telling Politico that “He doesn’t have anything until I approve it. So we’ll see what he’s got,” Trump told Politico. 

His remarks were uttered a couple of days before his planned Sunday in-person meeting with Zelenskyy. The Ukrainian president is rightfully adamant about forgoing land cessation while including security guarantees during peace discussions to end the nearly four-year war with Russia. Trump and Russian führer Putin have an opposing opinion.

No, Mr. President, you don’t decide independent, sovereign Ukraine’s destiny. Only the Ukrainian nation is empowered to decide its future, if it will accede to NATO and the European Union, and if its national language will continue to be Ukrainian.

Not you, not Putin.

Throughout history, the Ukrainian nation has shown that it is the master of its land and country that it established and defended despite Moscow’s repeated, brutal, bloody military and political attempts to quash the establishment of a free, democratic Ukraine. For Ukraine, it is a matter of living, existing. For Russia, it’s a matter imprisoning or annihilating the Ukrainian nation and colonizing Ukraine.

Zelenskyy’s 20-point draft proposal outlines a plan to have Russian forces withdraw from the Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Kharkiv regions and build an $800 billion fund for post-war recovery efforts.

“Every meeting and every conversation brings us closer to the desired result,” Zelenskyy hopefully told the Kyiv Post, ahead of his planned face-to-face appointment with Trump.

At a State Department press conference on December 19, Secretary of State Marco Rubio demonstrated typical Americans’ deep lack of knowledge and understanding of the issues at stake. He said, “This is not just about ending a war this is about ending a war in a way that creates a mechanism and a way forward that will allow them to be independent and sovereign and never have another war again.”

First of all, independence and sovereignty pertain to Ukraine rather than Russia because Moscow is militarily seeking to liquidate Ukrainian independence and sovereignty, not the other way around.

Then, much to the surprise of the audience and even President Trump, Rubio  said, “ Suffice it to say – let me just put it to you this way – there can’t be a peace deal unless Ukraine agrees to it.  And there can’t be a peace deal, of course, unless Russia agrees to it.  But remember that.  Any peace deal is one that Ukraine has to agree to because they’re a combatant.  If Ukraine says, ‘We don’t agree to it,’ there won’t be peace. 

This contradicts what Trump has said because he feels that he has the sole authority to endorse peace in Ukraine.

Another detrimental nuance expressed by Rubio was the perception of parity. There is no difference between Russia and Ukraine, between aggressor-invader and victim, between evil and good in his mind. Rubio said, “A negotiated settlement requires two things: both sides to get something out of it, and both sides to give something.  And we’re trying to figure out what can Russia give, and what do they expect to get; what can Ukraine give and what can Ukraine expect to get.  In the end, the decision will be up to Ukraine and up to Russia.  It will not be up to the United States.” Again, not in line with Trump’s policies.

Russia, like Nazi Germany eight decades ago, does not deserve to get anything out of an end to the war that it started. Peace must be fair, just and secure for Ukraine while Russia is merely allowed to leave without additional losses.

While officials continue to discuss an end to the war, soldiers and innocent civilians are dying for peace, for their Ukraine.  At least five people were killed and 23 others injured in Russian attacks against Ukraine over the past day, local authorities reported on December 26.

Russia launched 99 drones and one Iskander ballistic missile at Ukraine overnight, the Ukrainian Air Force said. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 73 drones. At least 26 drones and the missile made it through, striking 16 locations.

In Chernihiv Oblast, a drone struck a five-story residential building in the city of Chernihiv, killing an 80-year-old woman. Ten others, including three children, were injured, Governor Viacheslav Chaus said.

In Kherson Oblast, Russian attacks killed one person and injured six people over the past day, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said.

In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, one person was killed and four people suffered injuries in Russian strikes against the region, Governor Ivan Fedorov reported.

In Donetsk Oblast, one person was killed and two were injured due to Russian strikes against the city of Kostiantynivka, one person was injured in a separate attack on Druzhkivka, Governor Vadym Filashkin said.

In Kharkiv Oblast, a 63-year-old man was injured as a result of Russian strikes, according to Governor Oleh Syniehubov.

Zelenskyy said last night’s strikes on Kyiv, like strikes against other cities in the past, are “Russia’s answer to our peace efforts” as he says more pressure on Moscow is needed to secure an end to the war.

Zelenskyy said that two things are needed to stop the war: “pressure on Russia” and “sufficient, strong support for Ukraine.”

The Ukrainian capital was hit by a fresh wave of Russian missiles and drones, killing at least two people and injuring 32 others, according to the authorities.

Former US Ambassador to NATO Kurt Volker seems to comprehend the issues. Volker said Friday, December 26, on Newsmax that Putin has no intention of agreeing to a genuine peace deal with Ukraine, noting that diplomatic efforts are ultimately about aligning Washington and Kyiv against what he described as Putin’s maximalist demands.

Volker said that renewed diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine are unlikely to produce a lasting peace because Putin remains unwilling to compromise on his core objectives.

“First off, I think that there is a very good chance that this weekend will end with the United States and Ukraine in alignment about security guarantees, about a proposal on territory, about a proposal on a ceasefire and elections, all of these things that keep the US and Ukraine working together and that will be supported by European allies,” he said.

“The problem, as always, is Vladimir Putin and Russia. Putin doesn’t want any part of this. He wants all of Ukraine. He wants Ukraine to withdraw from Ukrainian territory. He wants to subjugate the government there. He will not agree to a ceasefire unless he's promised everything in advance. So this is really not about getting the peace deal, because Putin is never going to agree to a peace deal. This is about getting the U.S. and Ukraine in the right position together to present Putin with a united front and to continue working together for Ukraine’s security, prosperity, and democracy going forward. Even if Putin decides to continue the war,” he said.

For the sake of peace and security of the free world, Trump must understand and give in to Ukraine’s position about why it will gratefully accept American weapons and financial aid but not his harmful political advice.

US Senators Condemn Russia’s Bloody Christmas Bombing of Ukrainian Cities

US Senators Condemn Russia’s Bloody Christmas Bombing of Ukrainian Cities

U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Thom Tillis (R-NC), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), John Barrasso (R-WY), Chris Coons (D-DE), Angus King (I-ME), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) condemned Russia’s latest deadly attack against innocent civilian targets in Ukraine.

They released the statement on December 25, 2025, on Russia’s killing of civilians as Christians around the world celebrate the Christmas holiday.

“We condemn Russia’s brutal attacks on Kherson, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, Sumy, Donetsk and Kryvyi Rih waged on innocent Ukrainians as they convened to mark the birth of the Prince of Peace with their loved ones and in prayer.

“It bears repeating that President Zelenskyy agreed to a Christmas truce, but Putin declined, yet he directs soldiers to continue to commit brutal crimes of aggression on one of Christianity’s holiest days.

“Even for countries at war, there is a long history of Christmas ceasefires, including notably during World War I. Today’s decision by Putin to launch attacks rather than hold fire is a sobering reminder for us all: Putin is a ruthless murderer who has no interest in peace and cannot be trusted.

“We stand with the people of Kyiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, Kherson and Donetsk marking the birth of Christ under the most challenging of circumstances. Ukrainians’ faith is a stronger force than the evil unleashed today by the Kremlin.”

A Real Possibility that Keeps Putin up at Nights

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Polish President Karol Nawrocki laid the foundations of a relationship that is destined to scare Russi
an führer enough to keep him up at nights.

The two national leaders of neighboring countries discussed the Russian war versus Ukraine, its effect on Ukraine and Poland, and a range of mutual concerns, during a private meeting in Warsaw on Friday, December 19. They also signaled progress on historical reconciliation, which had caused tension in bilateral relations in the past, according to observers.

In numerous blogposts over the years I have written about the wide range of benefits of such a partnership not only between Ukraine and Poland but also among all x-captive nations of Russian subjugation.

The meeting was the first between the two European leaders since Nawrocki was inaugurated as Poland’s new president on August 6, 2025, and they discussed security matters largely involving Russia, along with economic concerns and historical issues, according to the Kyiv Independent.

Zelenskyy said the meeting was the start of a new chapter for the relationship between the two nations and is “bad news for Russia.” It’s tantamount to the fear that a prison warden feels when unjustly incarcerated prisoners are released from detention.

“I very much hope that this visit opens a new and even more substantial chapter in our relations – the relations between Ukraine and Poland, the relations not merely of neighbors, but of two European pillars without which there will simply be no freedom in our part of Europe, because there will be no security,” Zelenskyy told media afterward during a joint press conference, according to a variety of sources.

“Russia wants discord, wants to destroy and dismantle such a strong alliance – the alliance of two peoples of many generations of Ukraine and Poland,” Zelenskyy said. “We will not allow them to do this.”

He said Ukrainian and Polish independence deters Russian aggression in Eastern Europe but warned that Russia would continue into Poland if Ukraine were to fall amid the nearly four-year war there that began when Russia invaded on February 24, 2022. Indeed, Ukraine and Poland stand as solid united bulwarks against age-old Russian aggression and westward invasions.

Nawrocki noted, “In strategic matters, our strategic cooperation in the field of security issues, Poland, Ukraine, countries of the region, countries filled with democratic values are together and this has never been in doubt.”

Nawrocki said Poland supported efforts to transfer frozen Russian assets to Ukraine as well as further sanctions against Russia and action against its shadow fleet. Zelenskyy said Ukraine was ready to share its expertise on drone defense and welcomed Polish businesses to participate in Ukraine’s reconstruction.

“If Russia drags out this war — and that is exactly the signal the entire world hears from Moscow, as they continue to threaten us — we will use these funds for defense, if the war continues,” Zelenskyy said in Warsaw. “If the world compels Russia to make peace, we will use these funds exclusively for the reconstruction of our country.”

Poland, Ukraine and Lithuania have been forming a strong military alliance under the Lublin Triangle agreement—the Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian Brigade (LitPolUkrBrig).

Bipartisan support for the intentions of the captive nations has always been strong in Washington, DC – except for during the Trump presidency.

Prof. Lev Dobriansky, former president of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), in 1959 persuaded Congress and the Eisenhower Administration to adopt the Captive Nations Proclamation, which he personally drafted. The proclamation, embedded in Public Law 86-90, was a litany of anti-Soviet pro-freedom paragraphs:

“Whereas since 1918 the imperialistic and aggressive policies of Russian communism have resulted in the creation of a vast empire which poses a dire threat to the security of the United States and of all the free peoples of the world;

“Whereas the imperialistic policies of Communist Russia have led, through direct and indirect aggression, to the subjugation of the national independence of Poland, Hungary, Lithuania, Ukraine, Czechoslovakia, Latvia, Estonia, White Ruthenia, Rumania, East Germany, Bulgaria, mainland China, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, North Korea, Albania, Idel-Ural, Tibet, Cossackia, Turkestan, North Viet-Nam, and others…

“Whereas these submerged nations look to the United States as the citadel of human freedom, for leadership in bringing about their liberation and freedom and in restoring to them the enjoyment of their Christian, Jewish, Moslem, Buddhist or other religious freedoms and of their individual liberties…”

The essential formation of such an alliance has precedent based on World War Two. The Anti-Bolshevik Bloc of Nations (ABN) was a coordinating center for anti-Communist émigré political organizations from Soviet and other socialist countries. The ABN attributes its existence and its ideological foundations to an underground conference of representatives of non-Russian peoples that took place on November 21-22, 1943, near Zhytomyr, Ukraine, on the initiative of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists. The attendees adopted a platform of joint revolutionary struggle against Russian communism. The goal of the ABN was the dissolution of the Soviet Union into national states. Given an organizational structure in Munich in 1946, the ABN extended its scope of activity to include the Eastern European emigration.

The following organizations were members of the ABN from its inception or for varying periods of time: “Free Armenia” Committee, Bulgarian National Front, Belorussian Central Council, Cossack National Liberation Movement, Croatian National Liberation Movement, Czech Movement for Freedom (Za Svobodu), Czech National Committee, Estonian Liberation Movement, Union of the Estonian Fighters for Freedom, Georgian National Organization, Hungarian Liberation Movement, Hungarian Mindszenty Movement, Latvian Association for the Struggle against Communism, Lithuanian Rebirth Movement, Slovak Liberation Committee, National Turkestanian Unity Committee, United Hetman Organization, and the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (Bandera faction).

The formal establishment of an updated bloc of former captive nations of Russian subjugation can be a genuine fortification against Russian expansionism, imperialism and aggression, while standing in defense of the newly independence countries. 

Hatred and Disdain for Russians Keeps Ukrainians Alive while Putin isn’t Changing his Game Plan

Russian führer Putin prides himself on bombing unarmed Ukrainian civilians everyday if President Volodymyr Zelenskyy refuses to acquiesce to Moscow’s demands by surrendering.

Many Ukrainian cities and towns from East to West, and North to South have felt Russia’s wrath. Men, women and children have been pulled from gutted apartment buildings, bodies have been removed from churches, schools, hospitals, supermarkets and train stations. With each relentless wave of drones and rockets the people’s stubbornness is not shattered along with the bricks and mortar but rather their spirit, willpower and unity have been reinforced.

A woman in Odesa, on the Black Sea coast, which has been the target of almost daily bombardments, observed to a reporter, “Honestly, do the Russians think these attacks will change anything? Our hatred and disdain for them have already reached a peak. That’s why we hold on.”

The city, home to one million residents, was plunged into near-complete darkness on December 13, with hundreds of thousands of residents left without electricity, while water and heating services became scarce.

“The emergency situation that arose as a result of the enemy's massive attack on the energy infrastructure has acquired the status of a state-level emergency,” Odesa Oblast Governor Oleh Kiper wrote on Dec. 17.

The story of determination, adaptation and defiance unfolds in this anecdote that I heard on social media: “They’re leaving us without electricity and lights. Idiots! In nine months there’ll be a million more banderite-nationalists in Ukraine. Glory to Ukraine!”

As Odesa and other cities and towns across Ukraine burn and the meaningless talks about how to end the almost four-year Russian war against Ukraine have slowed, Russian führer Putin and his gauleiters continue to offer their spin on their version of ersatz peace.  Depending on the reporter and what he or she heard at deadline, the long and the short of it testifies to Moscow’s unrelenting desire to press on with its conquest of all of Ukraine.

Putin emphasized on Friday, December 19, that Moscow’s troops were advancing across the battlefield in Ukraine and voiced confidence the Kremlin would achieve its goals militarily if Kyiv doesn’t agree to Russia’s unconditional terms in peace talks. However, there are enough reputable voices that contradict Putin’s ecstatic claim.

Speaking at his tightly orchestrated annual news conference that lasted about four and a half hours and revealed nothing new about the Kremlin’s war with Ukraine, Putin declared that Russian forces have “fully seized strategic initiative” and would make more gains by year’s end. However, international media report that Russian cutthroats have been forced back by Ukrainian soldiers near Kupiansk.

The news conference took place in the midst of back and forth peace proposals put forward by President Donald Trump and Putin. Despite the White House’s extensive diplomatic push, Washington’s efforts have run into sharply conflicting demands from Moscow and Kyiv. Though more often than not, Washington and Moscow have been on the same page regarding the demand that Ukraine, the victim, must surrender its land to Russia, the murderous aggressor and invader.

Inasmuch as Russia’s war against Ukraine has been faltering after almost four years with no triumphant victory for Russia in sight, the topic of Ukraine dominated this year’s highly choreographed faux news conference. Pundits opined that this could reflect the Kremlin’s desire to assuage the public after nearly four years of fighting by painting a bravura picture of the soldiers’ glorious victories for mother Russia.

Putin praised Trump’s peace efforts and reemphasized that Moscow was ready for a peaceful settlement that would address the “root causes” of the war, a reference to the Kremlin’s impossible conditions for a deal. Despite Trump’s misguided, historically erroneous conclusion that the war is being waged because both presidents hate each other, at this forum Putin had the opportunity to expound any lie that he wished to promote.

Putin told the audience that he has agreed to make “certain compromises” and “uneasy decisions” at the Alaska summit with Trump in August but again he didn’t elaborate.

However, he, the führer of the invading power, repeated his adamant demands that all the areas in four key regions of eastern Ukraine captured by his forces, as well as the Crimean Peninsula, illegally annexed in 2014, to be recognized as Russian territory. Trump and chief negotiator Steve Witkoff are amenable to Putin’s demand. Trump has even said that, after all, Russian soldiers fought for and seized that territory.

He has also insisted that Ukraine withdraw from some areas in eastern Ukraine that Moscow’s cutthroats haven’t captured yet.

President Zelenskyy has understandably publicly rejected all these demands.

The Kremlin has also insisted that Ukraine abandon its bid to join NATO and warned that it wouldn’t accept the deployment of any troops from members of the military alliance members and would view them as “legitimate target.”

Putin also has repeatedly said Ukraine must limit the size of its army and give official status to the Russian language — demands he has made from the outset of the conflict.

Putin rejected Western claims about Russian plans to attack European nations as “sheer nonsense” aimed at deflecting public attention from domestic problems. Nonetheless, the former captive nations of Russian subjugation are convinced that if Ukraine falls, their independence will also come to an end.

Putin particularly singled out NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte for his statements about the Kremlin’s aggressive intentions, pointing out Trump’s recently published national security strategy that doesn’t name Russia as a direct adversary. “How can you prepare NATO for a war with Russia if the main member of NATO doesn’t consider us as an enemy?” Putin insisted.

This omission by Trump shows how dangerously different his policies regarding Russia and the newly independent nations are from his predecessors of either party.

As it faces Russian assaults across the front line, relentless attacks on its energy facilities, the strikes against civilian targets and the murder of innocent men, women and children, Ukraine desperately needs cash infusions from its Western allies.

On Friday, December 19, European leaders agreed to provide a massive interest-free loan, but they failed to bridge differences with Belgium that would have allowed them to use frozen Russian assets to raise the funds.

The leaders tried to reassure Belgium, where most of the frozen assets are held, that they would protect it from any retaliation from Moscow if it backed the plan, but the leaders eventually opted to borrow the money on capital markets. Using Russian assets to help Kyiv would have amounted to “robbery,” Putin said.

Putin bragged to NBC news that he has done everything to end the war and the proverbial ball is in Ukraine’s court.

Allowing Russia to have a say in the matter of peace in Ukraine is immoral and unjust. With Trump and Witkoff parroting Putin’s demands and game plan, who is on Ukraine’s side? And Ukraine is on the verge of being raped and sacrificed again by the mighty champions of freedom and democracy.

Odesa, Ternopil, Kyiv, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia and other Ukrainian towns and cities will just have to burying their dead while waiting longer for peace to come to them.

United Nations Rez condemns Russian war vs Ukraine

 UN General Assembly Condemns Russian War vs Ukraine

The UN General Assembly, in its resolution on human rights violations in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, has condemned Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha welcomed the decision.

The resolution, titled "Situation of human rights in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, including the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol,” covers the human rights situation in all territories of Ukraine that have been temporarily occupied by Russia and provides for enhanced monitoring of the systemic violations committed by the Russian occupation administration against the local population.

In addition, it clearly condemns Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, reaffirms Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, and stresses the non-recognition of any attempts to change the status of Ukrainian territories.

The resolution also expresses serious concern about the militarisation of the occupied territories, the forced mobilisation of their residents into the Russian Armed Forces, the persecution of journalists, human rights defenders and civil society representatives, as well as the destruction of cultural heritage, including in Crimea.

“This year's document has been strengthened with new provisions that directly condemn torture, inhuman treatment and other gross human rights violations suffered by Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians who are being held unlawfully. The resolution builds on the findings of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the crimes of the Russian Federation, which confirm cases of enforced disappearances and torture both in the occupied territories and in Russia itself."

The document further condemns Russia's refusal to provide information about the fate of abducted and captured Ukrainians.

The UN General Assembly has called on Russia to ensure unimpeded access for the ICRC to places where prisoners are being held, to guarantee proper medical care, to carry out a full exchange of prisoners of war, and to release all those who are being held unlawfully, including Crimean Tatars, civilians, political prisoners and journalists.

The UN also demands that Russia immediately cease its aggression and withdraw all its troops from the territory of Ukraine.

Foreign Minister Sybiha welcomed the adoption of the resolution.

“Ukraine has initiated this resolution annually since 2016. The document strongly condemns Russia's aggression, reaffirms Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and demands an immediate end to the war and withdrawal of Russian forces. The resolution strengthens international monitoring of grave human rights and humanitarian law violations and underscores the imperative of accountability,” Sybil’s said,

A total of 79 countries voted in favour of the document, 16 were against and 73 abstained. Those voting against included Russia, Belarus, North Korea, China, Iran, Burkina Faso, Eritrea, Sudan, Mali, Zimbabwe, Burundi, the Central African Republic, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Cuba and Nicaragua.

The UN General Assembly adopted an Ukraine-initiated resolution on strengthening international cooperation and minimising the aftermath of the 1986 disaster at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant. The document was supported by 97 countries.  The United States, Russia and Belarus voted against it.

They even Mock Adversaries in the same Manner

President Donald J. Trump and Russian führer Vladimir Putin have more in common than meets the eye.

They both mock people in the same manner.

On November 14, you may recall that Americans were aghast when Trump, meeting with reporters aboard Air Force One, mocked a female journalist’s insistent questioning. According to a host of published reports, when Catherine Lucey asked a follow-up question regarding the recently released files related to Jeffrey Epstein, Trump cut her off, pointed a finger, and snapped, “Quiet! Quiet, piggy.”

The incident attracted a great deal attention and was widely condemned, although the White House defended the remark, stating President Trump “is very frank & honest with everyone.”

Putin also lost his cool and lashed out at Western leaders during an annual meeting with his defense ministry on December 17, calling European leaders “piglets” and declaring that the goals of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine would be met “unconditionally.”

If Russia's demands were not met through diplomatic efforts, Putin warned that Russia would “liberate” what he claimed were its “historical lands” on the battlefield.

Piggies and piglets of all farms unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains!

Russian Trojan Horse in Ukraine

Europe Says Long-Term Russian Presence in Ukraine is Trojan Horse for more Invasions 

Any plan that foresees the continued presence of Russian troops in eastern Ukraine for the sake of an unsecured peace is being regarded by European officials as a classic Trojan horse.

One of the plans that is being circulated calls for the establishment of an economic free zone in the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts with the stationing of Russian cutthroats.

European officials have expressed their concern that this US-brokered peace deal in Ukraine could be exploited by Russia, paving the way for a re-invasion of territory in the war-battered nation’s eastern Donbas region or other regions, according to Bloomberg News and  other news outlets.

The fear is that the US plan for a demilitarized zone would give the Russia cover to deploy covert forces in the contested area pending another invasion, according to people familiar with the matter. The Kremlin might then use hybrid tactics, including so-called false flag operations, to undermine US security guarantees and manufacture the premise for a new invasion, they said.   

Russia is demanding that Ukrainian forces withdraw from the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions — including territory Russia doesn’t control. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has adamantly refused to cede any Ukrainian land to the Russian aggressor. NATO supports Kyiv’s position.  Europe’s main objective in the coming weeks is to ensure that any peace deal doesn’t contain a Russian Trojan horse. 

The White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on those concerns.  

Russian fuhrer Vladimir Putin will likely retain his maximalist goals of subjugating all of Ukraine not merely the eastern oblasts and then reconstituting the evil Russian empire.

Peter Ricketts, a former British national security adviser, said the Europeans were right to be concerned by the US proposal for a demilitarized zone. Once American attention drifted elsewhere, Putin could “create incidents as pretexts” — such as protecting Russian speakers, to move in, he said. 

“This would leave the rest of Ukraine vulnerable to the next Russian advance,” Ricketts said. “So this is not just a technical point, but a fundamental issue — for Ukraine and for European security.” 

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte this week warned of a threat beyond Ukraine’s borders, saying Russia will come for the rest of Europe if its warmongering isn’t checked now. 

“We are Russia’s next target. And we are already in harm’s way,” Rutte said in Berlin. “We must be prepared for the scale of war our grandparents and great-grandparents endured.”

“There is one question I — and all Ukrainians — want to get an answer to,” Zelenskyy told Bloomberg News on Monday. “If Russia again starts a war, what will our partners do.”