Olivia, thanks for shedding light on this murky brew. My gut feeling is that you are correct and it looks like the NATO alliance is holding strong, 🙏🏻, even without the US, should that be necessary. Great analysis.
What a shocking spectacle this event in Washington DC was! It was obvious to almost anyone that our US felon president had no idea what was going on in this meeting, and is so far out of his depth that it was almost physically painful to watch. World leaders have been forced to massaging Trump’s fragile ego to prevent him from treating Zelenski like a child again as he did in the disgusting display of ignorance and stupidity when the two met before along with the bully JD Vance who is as disgusting and incompetent as Trump. For Trump to be pushing Putin’s so-called peace offer that takes everything from Ukraine and gives nothing in return is disgusting and proves what critics have feared and have said from the beginning. Trump has no idea what he is doing and is in the pocket of the Russians for some as of yet unknown reason.
" for some as of yet unknown reason"? Patrick, I would hazard a guess that it will be so the oligarchs in the USA somehow get richer. I hope that I am wrong and he genuinely wants a better world for all concerned through a fair and equitable solution.
Thank you for explaing in terms easy for me to grasp. A thwarted mind into power and control will express its contorted logic in ways not logical nor reasonable. Our task is made easier because you and other clear thinkers cut through the literal and figurative jungle of twisted and nasty foalige discharged into our experience daily. Truth is it's own machate. Thank you!!
"HE" is all about "theatre" and nothing more. The other thing is about being seen on the world stage. "HE" loves the attention. But me thinks he will get nothing done! He's the unuseful piece to the puzzle. We all know why he's doing it though, it's that "coveted" Nobel Prize that he wants and a place on the cover of Time Magazine! Nothing more, nothing less!
As reported by PBS “Trump was ‘a little bothered’ that President Zelenskyy needs constitutional approval to cede land to Russia…Oksana Markarova, Ukraine's ambassador to the U.S., brought a copy of her country's constitution to her interview on Sunday with CBS' "Face the Nation," and described how the president is "the guarantor of the constitution" and cannot give away land under Article 133.”
Of course Trump wouldn’t understand this, since he’s a dictator who is completely unconstrained by our Constitution.
It has been clear for years that Trump admires Putin and despises Zelenskyy. The best that can be hoped for is that Zelenskyy holds his ground with maximum possible support from Europe.
That’s a great assessment of the meeting. The US had a lot to do with the provocation of Russia to invade Ukraine and now with Trump the US is pulling back support.
Olivia offers thought-provoking analysis that frames the meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy not as a step toward peace, but as a "political performance." We need to say out loud that Trump's proposed "NATO-like" security guarantees and the idea of territorial "exchanges" are dangerous because they could fracture the NATO alliance and reward Russia's aggression. The article reminds readers that Trump's diplomatic approach treats national sovereignty as a bargaining chip, reinforcing such a strategy to legitimize conquest.
It seems to me that giving up Crimea and keeping Donetsk and Luhansk (for Ukraine) with solid security guarantees (which is very problematic) could be a compromise, although I am quite certain Putin would not even consider it. He hasn't achieved a fraction of his goals, and keeping Crimea while living with an expanded NATO (and Article 5-like security guarantees for Ukraine) is a loss from the Russian perspective.
Crimea was 58% ethnically Russian in 2014. Luhansk & Donetsk were majority ethnically Ukrainian in 2001, even though the Russian language was preferred there.
The Russian economy and military are not in good shape. Everyone has choices to make. If Russia is unwilling to make concessions, I would hope that the EU and the US would apply more pressure in the form of actions and sanctions rather than just empty rhetoric.
I can't fault the Ukrainians from wanting to stop Russia's invasion of their lands because they have been protecting it from them for centuries, but the Ruskes want to build their empire to claim some greater notoriety in the world stage just as China has been doing for a very long time.
Religiously speaking , the USA, Ukraine and Russia are all predominantly Christian nations ,as Russia and Ukraine are both Eastern Orthodox Christianity according to a browser search that I just made,which begs the question as to why predominantly Christian nations be so much at odds with each other? To me the answer is because of the love of money as displayed through power politics and not just religion. Has not world history shown us consistantly that a ruling class has always been present in the governments of the world through these past many centuries and these power structures are always the strongest and richest of their times?
Does not my primace surely call for more democracy in the world ? The USA has been the best example of how it can be done ,although, not perfect , we should never give up on it and seek to protect what we have left and improve on it continuously. Without checks and balances ,we will have a weaker democracy that will surely lead to an authoritarian system that will not get the job done for all of us in the end. It will end up being like what world history has shown to be disastrous to those who adher to it, allowing the rich to get richer and the poor to get poorer, which is certainly not Christlike.
Let's continue to fight for a better world for everyone.
Trump has got the diplomatic skills of a gnat. He is so Chamberlain-ish no where near a Churchill. His other main man Steve Witkoff , a frequent visitor to Russian should be no where near a negotiation table with Putin. This a a very serious matter and they seem to be treating it like a real-estate deal. Swopping land. Go figure. Not sure where Marco Rubio fits in. Trump seem to think Putin will stop killing civilians if he was to a take 5% of Ukaine's land. Sorry Donald Putin is not stopping . There may be a couple of years of peace and the Russian bear will be back for more. Donald where are all these heavy sanctions you have been threatening Putin with. Did you mess around with a few Russian models back in the day. I do know that a Russian model was blackmailing some men in New York and Epstein had to look into it. Ms.Guzal Ganieva claimed that “powerful men were taking advantage of women like her”. Just asking.
Yeah, Trump missed the opportunity to demand Kamchatka from Putin. That would've put Putin on the same level as the other heads of state visiting our land.
Surprise, surprise. That's what Trump does. He offers a bunch of bogus solutions that the buyer can't use, then says he's negotiating. Now he can blame Ukraine for 'prolonging the war'.
"Splits NATO and EU allies into compromisers vs. defenders."
NATO is going to have to step up to the plate here. But if European or American troops get into a pitched battle with Russia, you can chalk that up as the beginning of World War 3.
My advice for Ukraine: If you have to give up land, offer Donbas and grab Crimea.
"So when Trump talks about offering Ukraine “NATO-like” guarantees"
We offered Ukraine security in exchange for it giving up its nuclear weapons. We didn't honor that deal, and they'd be foolish to trust us to honor the next deal. It's either NATO or it isn't.
Olivia, thanks for shedding light on this murky brew. My gut feeling is that you are correct and it looks like the NATO alliance is holding strong, 🙏🏻, even without the US, should that be necessary. Great analysis.
After how the Budapest Memorandum worked out, it's hard to see Ukraine agreeing to a flimsy "security guarantee".
Especially with Trump at the wheel. Non starter.
I agree.
brilliantly put. thank you!
What a shocking spectacle this event in Washington DC was! It was obvious to almost anyone that our US felon president had no idea what was going on in this meeting, and is so far out of his depth that it was almost physically painful to watch. World leaders have been forced to massaging Trump’s fragile ego to prevent him from treating Zelenski like a child again as he did in the disgusting display of ignorance and stupidity when the two met before along with the bully JD Vance who is as disgusting and incompetent as Trump. For Trump to be pushing Putin’s so-called peace offer that takes everything from Ukraine and gives nothing in return is disgusting and proves what critics have feared and have said from the beginning. Trump has no idea what he is doing and is in the pocket of the Russians for some as of yet unknown reason.
" for some as of yet unknown reason"? Patrick, I would hazard a guess that it will be so the oligarchs in the USA somehow get richer. I hope that I am wrong and he genuinely wants a better world for all concerned through a fair and equitable solution.
Thank you for explaing in terms easy for me to grasp. A thwarted mind into power and control will express its contorted logic in ways not logical nor reasonable. Our task is made easier because you and other clear thinkers cut through the literal and figurative jungle of twisted and nasty foalige discharged into our experience daily. Truth is it's own machate. Thank you!!
Well said.
"HE" is all about "theatre" and nothing more. The other thing is about being seen on the world stage. "HE" loves the attention. But me thinks he will get nothing done! He's the unuseful piece to the puzzle. We all know why he's doing it though, it's that "coveted" Nobel Prize that he wants and a place on the cover of Time Magazine! Nothing more, nothing less!
Sadly,you are probably correct in saying what you have written.
Thank you Clark!
My pleasure and you are welcome.
As reported by PBS “Trump was ‘a little bothered’ that President Zelenskyy needs constitutional approval to cede land to Russia…Oksana Markarova, Ukraine's ambassador to the U.S., brought a copy of her country's constitution to her interview on Sunday with CBS' "Face the Nation," and described how the president is "the guarantor of the constitution" and cannot give away land under Article 133.”
Of course Trump wouldn’t understand this, since he’s a dictator who is completely unconstrained by our Constitution.
Source: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/ceding-land-to-russia-not-only-unpopular-in-ukraine-but-also-illegal
Good point ,Larry.
It appears that our legislation and judicial branches of government are more in lock step with Trump also these days.
It has been clear for years that Trump admires Putin and despises Zelenskyy. The best that can be hoped for is that Zelenskyy holds his ground with maximum possible support from Europe.
I wouldn’t trust trump’s word in any negotiations. And just the idea of sucking up to that nincompoop makes me want to gag.
These days, even a treaty is a non starter. He breaks them like toothpicks.
That’s a great assessment of the meeting. The US had a lot to do with the provocation of Russia to invade Ukraine and now with Trump the US is pulling back support.
"The US had a lot to do with the provocation of Russia to invade Ukraine"? How so, Roger? I must have missed that part. Kindly,educate me.
Olivia offers thought-provoking analysis that frames the meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy not as a step toward peace, but as a "political performance." We need to say out loud that Trump's proposed "NATO-like" security guarantees and the idea of territorial "exchanges" are dangerous because they could fracture the NATO alliance and reward Russia's aggression. The article reminds readers that Trump's diplomatic approach treats national sovereignty as a bargaining chip, reinforcing such a strategy to legitimize conquest.
It seems to me that giving up Crimea and keeping Donetsk and Luhansk (for Ukraine) with solid security guarantees (which is very problematic) could be a compromise, although I am quite certain Putin would not even consider it. He hasn't achieved a fraction of his goals, and keeping Crimea while living with an expanded NATO (and Article 5-like security guarantees for Ukraine) is a loss from the Russian perspective.
Russia might be 'winning' on the ground in some sense, but Finland and Sweden have joined NATO since the war began (833 miles of border), and Russia has less territory now (19%) than it did at its peak during the war. Russia still claims Kherson and Zaporizhzhia: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/how-much-territory-does-russia-control-ukraine-2025-08-14/
Crimea was 58% ethnically Russian in 2014. Luhansk & Donetsk were majority ethnically Ukrainian in 2001, even though the Russian language was preferred there.
The Russian economy and military are not in good shape. Everyone has choices to make. If Russia is unwilling to make concessions, I would hope that the EU and the US would apply more pressure in the form of actions and sanctions rather than just empty rhetoric.
I can't fault the Ukrainians from wanting to stop Russia's invasion of their lands because they have been protecting it from them for centuries, but the Ruskes want to build their empire to claim some greater notoriety in the world stage just as China has been doing for a very long time.
Religiously speaking , the USA, Ukraine and Russia are all predominantly Christian nations ,as Russia and Ukraine are both Eastern Orthodox Christianity according to a browser search that I just made,which begs the question as to why predominantly Christian nations be so much at odds with each other? To me the answer is because of the love of money as displayed through power politics and not just religion. Has not world history shown us consistantly that a ruling class has always been present in the governments of the world through these past many centuries and these power structures are always the strongest and richest of their times?
Does not my primace surely call for more democracy in the world ? The USA has been the best example of how it can be done ,although, not perfect , we should never give up on it and seek to protect what we have left and improve on it continuously. Without checks and balances ,we will have a weaker democracy that will surely lead to an authoritarian system that will not get the job done for all of us in the end. It will end up being like what world history has shown to be disastrous to those who adher to it, allowing the rich to get richer and the poor to get poorer, which is certainly not Christlike.
Let's continue to fight for a better world for everyone.
Trump has got the diplomatic skills of a gnat. He is so Chamberlain-ish no where near a Churchill. His other main man Steve Witkoff , a frequent visitor to Russian should be no where near a negotiation table with Putin. This a a very serious matter and they seem to be treating it like a real-estate deal. Swopping land. Go figure. Not sure where Marco Rubio fits in. Trump seem to think Putin will stop killing civilians if he was to a take 5% of Ukaine's land. Sorry Donald Putin is not stopping . There may be a couple of years of peace and the Russian bear will be back for more. Donald where are all these heavy sanctions you have been threatening Putin with. Did you mess around with a few Russian models back in the day. I do know that a Russian model was blackmailing some men in New York and Epstein had to look into it. Ms.Guzal Ganieva claimed that “powerful men were taking advantage of women like her”. Just asking.
Yeah, Trump missed the opportunity to demand Kamchatka from Putin. That would've put Putin on the same level as the other heads of state visiting our land.
Ukraine is a SOVEREIGN nation. the oval resident has NO authority to decide for Ukraine 🇺🇦
"That’s not quite diplomacy. That’s performance."
Surprise, surprise. That's what Trump does. He offers a bunch of bogus solutions that the buyer can't use, then says he's negotiating. Now he can blame Ukraine for 'prolonging the war'.
"Splits NATO and EU allies into compromisers vs. defenders."
NATO is going to have to step up to the plate here. But if European or American troops get into a pitched battle with Russia, you can chalk that up as the beginning of World War 3.
My advice for Ukraine: If you have to give up land, offer Donbas and grab Crimea.
"So when Trump talks about offering Ukraine “NATO-like” guarantees"
We offered Ukraine security in exchange for it giving up its nuclear weapons. We didn't honor that deal, and they'd be foolish to trust us to honor the next deal. It's either NATO or it isn't.