In 1994, following the break-up of the Soviet Union, Ukraine agreed to give up its nuclear weapons stockpiles in exchange for security guarantees from the UK, US, France – and, most notably, Russia. This was known as the Budapest Memorandum.

Fast forward to 2015, there was the Minsk Agreements, brokered by France and Germany and signed between Russia and Ukraine after Moscow’s first invasion of its neighbour.

Under the accords, Kyiv was supposed to regain control over all of its state border and hold elections in those areas of the Donbas that Russian forces had seized.

It never happened, and President Zelensky later described the agreements as a “trap”. Seven years later, Russia staged a full-scale invasion of Ukraine… More here.

The peace plan on offer is a joke. Trump knows it’s a joke and all he seems to be doing is what suits Putin. Giving up land they have won, giving land to Russia that they have not taken and, crucially, specific areas that would give Russia the opportunity to attack again with a huge advantage. A Ukrainian election in 100 days? Oh come on, like that won’t be rigged or heavily influenced.

Trump is treating Ukraine as the aggressor, Trump is pandering to Putin. What else is Trump up to? It’s a disgrace.

Categories: Politics, Thoughts