Staff Reports
In the art of diplomacy and warfare, tough decisions often come front and center, and Ukraine is no exception. It seems the country is now facing a daunting choice—preserve its dignity by continuing its seemingly endless fight against Russia, or risk losing the allegiance of its key ally, the United States. Some say actions have consequences, and Ukraine is learning this firsthand.
The suggestion from a familiar face is that Ukraine should have struck a deal with Russia years ago. The president, always one to shoot straight from the hip, believes it would have been wise for the Ukrainian leadership to play their cards then. In his view, it does no good to sit at the poker table with nothing to bet. And perhaps, he muses, if they had negotiated sooner, Ukraine might not be stuck between a rock and a hard place today.
Mike Pompeo, a voice of reason amidst the clamor, weighed in on the matter. He argues stridently that any deal limiting Ukraine’s sovereignty plays right into Russia’s hands and could place America and Europe in a precarious position. Rolling over for a peace agreement that smacks more of surrender than formal accord is not something the United States, under sturdy Republican guidance, would graciously entertain.
Even though it sounds like a tall order to find a solution that satisfies all parties, Ukraine’s leadership is urged to keep its strategic wits about it. Instead of hastily jumping into an unpalatable agreement, sharpening the terms to better protect themselves should be the aim. After all, no one respects a pushover, right? Yet it does appear that drawing definitive lines (literally and figuratively) between Russia and Ukraine might not happen anytime soon, given the current state of affairs.
But isn’t that always the way in politics? The so-called experts might fancy themselves armchair generals, yet their strategies sometimes earn more smirks than applause. While Ukraine scrambles to identify its best course moving forward, Western watchers can only hope President Zelenskyy makes a decision that bolsters his nation rather than buckling to external pressures. As the situation unfolds, one can only spur them on from afar, hoping they summon the nerve to negotiate firmly and wisely.
