The author criticizes the proposed peace deal for Ukraine as a capitulation to Putin's aggression, involving concessions such as recognizing Russian sovereignty over Crimea and vetoing Ukraine's NATO membership. This, the author argues, would leave Ukraine vulnerable to future attacks.
The author believes Putin is overestimating his position, pointing to the slow progress of Russian forces, the effectiveness of Ukrainian drone technology, internal conflicts within Russia, and a weakening economy. Despite this, the author notes a prevalent belief in the West that Russia is fated to win.
The author suggests an alternative approach: instead of further concessions from Ukraine, the focus should shift to pressuring Putin. This involves rejecting the de jure recognition of Russian-occupied territories, maintaining a ceasefire along current lines, ensuring long-term military support for Ukraine, and potentially including a tripwire clause for NATO membership in case of future aggression. The author also calls for stronger secondary sanctions against countries trading with Russia, emphasizing the need for collaboration between the US and Europe to pressure Putin.
The author points to Senator Lindsey Graham's bill that would apply secondary sanctions on countries trading with Russia. The author believes that Donald Trump's influence could be crucial in pushing such a bill. They suggest that the West needs to stop seeking concessions from Ukraine and instead put the squeeze on Putin.