For the first time in four years, peace between Russia and Ukraine is now discussed as a real possibility. The past administration was content to ship billions of dollars to Ukraine without a hint of ever speaking to Vladimir Putin about peace. We were told over and over again that it was all about defending democracy. Three years ago, the media whipped up the public into a frenzy, and the colors blue and yellow of the Ukrainian flag were prominent everywhere. The outward virtue signaling has faded, as has the public’s support for the war.
In a recent Harris poll, 72% of voters want Ukraine to negotiate for peace, while 66% favor the Trump administration talking to Russia without Zelenskyy. Americans’ support for ending the conflict is unquestionable.
The tide change in the Russia/Ukrainian war can only be attributed to the new administration’s foreign policy. Unlike Biden, whose position was to continue to fund the war without talking about peace, Trump campaigned on a different approach. What Trump did before and after the election was to bring into the country’s consciousness the war is killing too many people on both sides. “We want to stop the millions of deaths taking place in the War with Russia/Ukraine.” Trump’s insistence that the bloodshed must stop should be lauded.
The fact of human death was never mentioned when the Democrats held power, but Trump’s words about the useless killing struck a chord, and public opinion has changed as a result.
Yesterday, Trump met with President Emmanuel Macron in Washington. Ending the war was first on the agenda, even though the two leaders had different views on how it should happen. Macron wants a security guarantee for Ukraine, while Trump wants the Europeans to take the lead with U.S. backing. The Harris poll indicated that 66% of voters agreed with Macron that Ukraine should receive some security guarantees only if Ukraine shares its rare earth elements to pay back previous U.S. support.
Not everyone is supportive of peace. The neocons and Democrats argue Russia still threatens Ukraine and the European continent. Their argument is so specious because it doesn’t have the manpower or military might to invade anywhere else. For three years, they tried to overtake Ukraine and have been unable to. If Russia doesn’t have the capabilities to take over its neighboring country, it indeed does not have the power to invade elsewhere.
Thankfully, those opposed to peace have little or no power to continue the war. With those instigators sidelined, the potential for peace has never been greater than it is today. The Trump administration must forge ahead while public opinion is on their side. What seemed to be a sticking point for Zelenskyy was sharing the rare elements. Trump was asked that yesterday, and he insinuated that Zelenskyy is softening to the idea even though he declined the offer last week in Munich.
The peace process is in its early stages, but at least it has started. The humanitarian crisis caused by this conflict is a tragedy and an affront to human dignity. No money, land, or power can justify the lives that have been lost or the bodies deformed.
It sure seems that peace may come to the war-torn part of the world after all. Pray that the process succeeds and the poor people living in that part of the world can begin to rebuild their lives and countries.
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