The explosion in the oval office between Ukrainian President Voldimi Zelensky, President Trump and Vice President Vance was a type of spectacle made for television that the White House seems to be enjoying. But the flap, which may have been the Vice President's setup, should not obscure the fact that this administration is looking for a peace deal in Ukraine that gives Russia what it wants.
Three years ago, Ukrainian President Voldimi Zelensky gave a historic speech in Munich, urging Western leaders in the face of the impending invasion of Vladimir Putin. Zelensky's message was simple: “Don't appease me.” Travelling to Munich in 1938, Fantastic Peace with Hitler At the expense of Czechoslovakia, a much more powerful country.
As the daughter of a Nazi German refugee, Zelensky's words stopped my hair. In the weeks and months that followed, the US and Europe listened to his call. It provided Ukraine with the support and support needed to counter Russia's brutal and illegal attacks.
Earlier this month, on the eve of the third anniversary of the war, Zelensky returned to Munich and I once again saw him sue the West. He was strong and determined, and spoke about finding a way to end the war with the conditions of Ukraine. However, the essence of his message remained the same. Now, President Putin is on the path to bloodshed and chaos.
Most Americans agree with Zelensky's message. But the opinion is not the most important. The US administration is pursuing policies that include the harsh echoes of Neville Chamberlain.
Like Chamberlain, it has shown an willingness to succumb to the demands of the invaders and accept Russian rule over the Ukrainian territory they seized with force. In direct negotiations with Russia, Ukraine was on the sidelines and replicated its absence from the Czechoslovakia Munich meeting.
Chamberlain said that Nazi Germany and Czechoslovakia were “conflicts on the conflict”The arguments of far countries, among those we don't know anything about. Similarly, the president denied Ukraine, calling Zelensky an unpopular dictator, suggesting that Ukraine was the cause of the conflict, and now he has made him a vitriol exchange in front of television cameras.
Forcing Ukraine to accept Russian terms in the name of peace would be worse than tempered. It's surrender. And it would irrevocably hurt America's global interest by providing green light to invaders to seize territory by force to invaders everywhere, including China.
The good news is that there is still time to avoid the worst outcomes. America's closest allies, including France and the UK, should visit Washington this week to encourage another course and bolster their message in the wake of Friday's blunder. Republican criticism of the president has been muted, but senior leaders who are now still believe in the foreign policy of peace through strength in President Reagan's peace policy, are urgent to act and act to blunt the sudden cutoff of support.
The United States remains open to support Ukraine to end the war on its terms, its independence is unharmed and its future as a friend of America in Europe is guaranteed. The United States should welcome and pursue such results. After all, our support for Ukraine has militarily weakened Russia. The weapons we send are produced in American factories. And the Ukrainian military is developing the purpose of this regime, the ability to help Europe put a burden on itself for its own security.
One outspoken contemporary critic of the Munich Agreement was a conservative member of the parliament named Winston Churchill. He gave Camberlain a tough responsibilities. “You have been given the choice of war and dishonor. You have chosen dishonor, and you will go to war.”
History teaches us that succumbing to dictators such as Vladimir Putin can only buy time. President Trump has the opportunity to shape history by standing with Ukraine, as did the American leaders in the past when they faced authoritarian attacks. By learning from history and ensuring that Ukraine wins, we can strengthen America's global leadership. How does history judge him? As a piecemaker – or as a modest?
Jane Herman is a former 9-year-old California lawmaker, a former ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee and most recently chaired the Defense Strategy Committee. She is the author of “Defence of Madness: Why We Don't Stand Up with Difficult National Security Issues Less Our Security.”
