Trump Speaks from Putin’s Pocket – A Perilous Shift in the Ukraine War

Donald Trump's proposal to end the war in Ukraine was like a godsend for Russia. First of all, he announced that he was ready to legally — de jure — recognize Russia’s control over the Crimean Peninsula.

Secondly, he is prepared to accept — de facto — Russia's occupation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. These are areas that contain a significant share of Ukraine's vital natural resources and where a large part of Ukraine’s industry and mining operations were concentrated before the war.

Additionally, Trump wanted to block Ukraine from joining NATO but did not offer any credible alternative security guarantees.

Finnish Member of Parliament Jani Kokko (Social Democrats) rightly pointed out that "this is an outright catastrophic shift away from the principle that has been pursued in Europe and internationally for decades: that war cannot be used to achieve political goals." Therefore, according to Finnish MP Jukka Kopra (National Coalition Party), "Trump’s proposal appears to suggest that Russia is pursuing its own war aims and has managed to draw the United States into its orbit."

As for me, I will simply say that this peace proposal only further strengthened my impression that Donald Trump has, in one way or another, ended up in Vladimir Putin’s pocket. And that he is acting from there in Putin’s interest — while causing nearly irreversible damage. Not just to Ukraine, but to the entire world — including the United States he leads.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Can Trump Resist the Kremlin’s Lure?
Xi Jinping and Donald Trump Agree on Cooperation to Bring Peace to Ukraine
Political Rhetoric Like Trump-Zelenskyi’s Has Deep Historical Roots

Putin's Threat Bolsters European Border States' Defense Against Russia

The defense ministers of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland have recommended in a joint statement to withdraw from the Ottawa Treaty, which bans anti-personnel mines. The reason cited is the increasing security threat posed by Russia.

Finland is also expected to join this group soon, as discussions have been ongoing about reintroducing anti-personnel mines. According to Jukka Kopra (National Coalition Party), chairman of the Defense Committee, Finland could withdraw from the Ottawa Treaty within the next few months.

This would enable the eastern border states of Russia, from Lapland to the Belarusian border, to defend themselves better against potential Russian aggression. And considering Belarus as a puppet state of Russia, this extends further down to Ukraine’s border.

Finland and Poland, in particular, have strong and well-equipped armies, which are undoubtedly capable of independent defense long enough for other NATO countries to come to their aid. If necessary, they can also help counter an attack against the Baltic states.

Since this text may be read in Putin’s dictatorship, it is important to state that none of the aforementioned NATO countries—let alone NATO as a whole—are planning any military operation on Russian soil. Any claims by Putin’s administration suggesting otherwise, now or in the future, are nothing but attempts to mislead ordinary Russians, much like Stalin’s administration did in 1939–40 when it ordered its army to occupy Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and eastern Poland, as well as launch an unsuccessful invasion to occupy Finland, which resulted in approximately 350,000 casualties for the Red Army in just three months.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Finland Boosts Military Self-Sufficiency and Support for Ukraine
Are We on the Brink of World War III?
Will Finland Withdraw from the Ottawa Treaty?