Excluding Ukraine from NATO summit is a blunder

There is no chance that Ukraine will be able to join NATO in the foreseeable future.  To be accepted as a new member, a nation must receive the support of every member-nation.  One “no” vote is a black ball.

As a prerequisite for any peace agreement (which he is not likely to honor), Russian dictator Putin demands a permanent ban on NATO membership for Ukraine.  He has sufficient influence in NATO to make that happen.  Putin is on fairly friendly terms with Hungary’s Viktor Orbán and Turkey’s Recep Erdoğan – among others.

Most disappointing is the fact that President Trump concedes to Putin’s opposition to NATO membership for Ukraine.  It has been reported that Trump has even blocked President Zelenskyy from attending the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague.  Although the Dutch Prime Minister says that the decision is not Trump’s to make.

As bad as President Biden’s too little/too late policy was for Afghanistan, Trump’s Ukraine policy is even worse.  He has the situation arse backwards.  He treats our ally as an enemy and our enemy as a friend.

I understand that Trump wants to end the killing – and that is admirable.  Unless Putin is defeated, however, there is likely to be more killing in the future – and perhaps on a larger scale.

Contrary to Trump’s Ukraine policies, I previously wrote that Ukraine’s membership in NATO should be a prerequisite to any peace agreement.  But then, I also believed that the United States, NATO and the world democracies should do whatever is necessary to defeat Putin –both in terms of Ukraine and his ambition for future conquests. Victory means Russia withdraws from all of Ukraine, returns the kidnapped children, and pays reparations. Anything short of that is a victory for Putin – and sets the stage for future aggression.

Biden made a huge blunder by surrendering Afghanistan to the Taliban.  Trump is making an even greater blunder by ceding Ukrainian territory to Putin.  Both policies weaken the United States strategically and diplomatically.

And it is not just optics.  Surrendering to the Taliban and to Putin provides America’s enemies with significant resources, strategic positioning and greater influence across the globe.

Trump expresses his preference for Putin in many ways.  There was that unfortunate dressing down of Zelenskyy in the Oval Office.  Falsely claiming that Ukraine started he war. Threatening to cut off military aid.

Trump has done all that even as Putin rebuffs every one of his peace proposals.  He cannot get Putin to the negotiating table.  The Madman of Moscow continues his brutal attacks on civilian populations even as Trump as called on him to cease.

Yes, Trump has expressed increasing frustration with Putin – and threatened sanctions if he does not comply.  Sadly, Trump has been issuing those threats for months, and even though Putin continues to wage war, Trump has DONE nothing.

Given all the concessions Trump has made to Putin, it is amazing that it is Putin who does not come to the table. Most of the terms in Trump’s framework are non-starters for Zelenskyy – as they should be.

Trump now suggests that the only way for Putin to talk peace is for him and Putin to meet one-on-one.  That should have Zelenskyy – and NATO — very nervous.

So far, Trump has not cut off military aid to Ukraine.  He should increase it as our NATO allies suggest – and as several of the American generals have suggested in television interviews.   But right now, it looks like Trump is willing to take the hits and the embarrassment.  And for what reason, God only knows. So, there ‘tis.