INTREP360 FLASH SIGNAL
TRUMP'S QUEST FOR NINE PEACE DEALS WILL LIKELY BE "NEIN."
President Donald Trump believes the war is personal between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, stating “we have a problem, they don’t get along too well, those two … This is a terrible relationship the two of them have.”
But it is much more complex than that.
During a White House announcement in the Oval Office on October 16, the President announced yet another meeting with Putin, this time in Budapest, Hungary. But Putin is not interested in peace; rather, getting Ukraine to stop bombing his oil refineries, and trying to convince Trump not to provide Zelensky the Tomahawk missile.
The Tomahawk missile is a potential game changer that would significantly affect Russia’s ability to continue bombing Ukrainian cities and sustaining their ground forces in Ukraine. With a range of 1,500 miles, sanctuary deep within the Russian interior is lost.
The Institute for the Study of War assesses that Ukraine would have at least 1,945 military targets to choose from. The top four would likely be Engels 2 airbase, Shahed drone facilities at Yelabuga and Tatarstan, and the Kerch Strait bridge.
Putin’s ‘special military operation’ is at risk. His air defense networks have proven futile against Ukrainian drones and missiles, the Tomahawk missile would be the straw that breaks the Bear’s back. Any wonder why he called Trump?
Trump wants to put another notch in his belt. He continues to tout the eight peace deals he has negotiated over the past 10 months, stating “we’re going to make this number nine.” More likely the German version of nein though.
Putin’s conditions have not changed – the total capitulation of Ukraine. For him, peace is achieved when Zelensky surrenders. Zelensky will not cede the occupied territories to Moscow – and will fight for every square inch of terrain.
As a result, Russia has sustained 1,128,030 casualties.
As the President reiterated in the Oval Office, “Last week over 7,000 people were killed. That’s ridiculous.”
Trump wants to stop the killing, and that is noble. But to stop the killing he must get Russia to stop attacking. Ukraine will not stop defending.
Simply put – Russia is the problem.
Ukraine’s version of oil sanctions is part of the solution. The other part is the Tomahawk missile. One defeats Russia’s ability to fund the war, the other their ability to fight and sustain it.
Putin is cornered. Now is not the time to extend an olive branch; rather, to dictate terms on Russia’s complete withdrawal from Ukraine. The West holds all the cards – play them.