Trump - Putin meeting in Alaska

Legit question- is Trump’s “proposal” basically give what Putin wants?

 

Most countries are willing to expand their sphere of influence through the employment of soft power: diplomacy, financial aid, student exchanges, etc. Conquest and subjugation is no longer an accepted method for expanding your sphere of influence. We've spent most of the last century promoting freedom and self-determination wherever practical, and regarding violence as a last resort to resolve disputes. There are kindergarteners who understand this, BTW--that's why people are successful bribing them with cookies.

In other words, it's not WHETHER a country wants to increase its sphere of influence, it's HOW they choose to do it. There is a right way and a wrong way.

 

Most of what he wants

 

Wanting freedom is for no good reason?

 

This is absolutely true. One of the most effective ways of spreading American ideals, historically and currently, is the entertainment industry--Hollywood. A bloodless, symbolic coup resulting in wide world influence.

 

Yes, three invasions and 3 land grabs. Not sure why the west expects Putin to change unless he is actually threatened.

 

If it was, why did Putin walk away empty handed by all accounts?

 

What is the part Putin doesn’t get in your opinion?

 

Ukraine has a final say on that. Although they are very ready for peace.

 

All the land he wants and minimal security assurances

 

If that is the case, I would not characterize that as "most of" what Putin wants. You are correct that nothing being discussed right now (and let's remember that we have only conjecture at this point, not an actual summary of any deal under discussion) includes close to the amount of land Putin was demanding even back in February; zero security assurances (what Putin wants), not minimal; Ukraine being disarmed; and a compliant, puppet government installed. I would say what is significant about the discussion is how much Putin has been forced to manage expectations over the last six months. Now that being said, my position remains that Ukraine needs to keep fighting. If Putin will settle for this much less since February, then how much less will he settle for in November when he is another 100,000 young Russian men the poorer, his economy has eroded further, and his debt to the CCP has climbed even higher?

 

I know what you mean, but Ukraine has never been unready for peace. Only one side in this conflict got the war it wanted (and yet has had an unending litany of whining about not wanting the war it got). The question remains, what is Ukraine willing settle for? I think even Russia's reportedly much-reduced demands are dead on arrival. Until Ukraine is unable or unwilling to keep fighting, the coalition of liberal democracies should keep providing support.

 

I can't imagine Ukraine wanting anything less than full autonomy of it's intact country and to join NATO. If Russia were to somehow take control of Ukraine, or even take regions of Ukraine, then I think Ukrainians know they would be living under constant terror. The fear of that will keep Ukraine fighting until Putin capitulates or he's tossed out of power, or Ukraine collapses. To me, Trump's path to peace is to fully back Ukraine and Zelensky, in alignment with Europe and NATO, and give Putin zero daylight.

 

I don’t think that’s realistic. Probably hasn’t been since Ukraine’s failed counteroffensive in the first year of the war. It is ridiculous to conceive of Ukraine giving up even more in a negotiated peace, but I don’t see Russia giving back their stolen ground either. I doubt Russia would have that on the table in a negotiated “peace deal”. That’s why the baseline is probably just feezing the lines mostly where they are

 

With an ally like Trump, probably is unrealistic. Do you believe NATO membership will be part of the bargain?

 

No clue, I’m hardly an expert lol. Although I don’t see how Ukraine could agree to anything less than some real security guarantee (so then at that point the question would be why *NOT* NATO?). Russia undoubtedly wants a lesser arrangement so they can fracture/corrupt it in the future.

 

Poll: Trump Approval Surges to 54 Percent After Meeting with Putin

 

So, he now has an advantage with every group except the largest voting block in the nation. Well phrased by the Newsmax/Ministry of Propaganda and Public Engagement.