"UKRAINE'S FUTURE: COURTESY OF TRUMP AND PUTIN"

Does Trump have the strength to stand up to Putin, or will he once again bend the knee, thinking his old business acumen can pull off a miracle? To be honest, the odds are not in Ukraine’s favor.

As the world watches with bated breath, Secretary of State Rubio and a group of Trump’s negotiators are preparing to board a plane bound for Moscow, tasked with engaging Vladimir Putin in peace talks about ending the ongoing war in Ukraine. For those who think that Donald Trump might somehow be the peacemaker in this deadly conflict, let’s pause and reflect for a moment. It’s not just any old peace deal that’s on the table; it’s a negotiation shaped by the whims of one of the most dangerous dictators in the world, a man who has consistently shown zero interest in peace unless it means total and utter capitulation.

Ukraine, under President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has asked for a 30-day ceasefire, a brief window to give peace talks a shot. But, of course, Vladimir Putin isn’t exactly the type of leader who’s in a rush for peace. Far from it. He sees this moment as a golden opportunity to maximize his control, extend his military grip, and force concessions from Ukraine, Western powers, and even Donald Trump himself. If you thought the demands coming out of Russia were anything short of ludicrous, you’d be right.

To begin with, Russia insists on keeping all the land it’s seized during the war; lands that are now a war-torn wasteland thanks to Putin’s aggression. So much for the concept of a ‘peaceful resolution,’ right? But wait, it gets worse. Not only must Ukraine relinquish the occupied territories, but Russia also demands that mineral rights be handed over to Russia. That’s right, Putin’s new empire needs to feed its oil and gas addiction. As if that weren’t enough, Moscow insists that Ukraine dismantle its current government, specifically President Zelenskyy, who has become a symbol of resistance to Russian aggression. Imagine that; Putin’s idea of “peace” involves erasing democracy, replacing it with puppet leadership, and turning Ukraine into a Kremlin-controlled satellite state.

But Putin isn’t done yet. In what could only be described as a bizarre fantasy of territorial domination, Russia demands demilitarized zones in Crimea and several other areas under dispute. One might wonder if Putin has ever heard of the concept of “negotiation.” It seems that he’s using this moment not to discuss peace, but to carve out more of Europe for himself while giving the world nothing in return but more Russian propaganda.

So, what does this mean for the man who once proudly boasted that he could “negotiate” anything? Does Trump have the strength to stand up to Putin, or will he once again bend the knee, thinking his old business acumen can pull off a miracle? To be honest, the odds are not in Ukraine’s favor.

Let’s face it: Trump has a history of flattering dictators and treating their aggressions as minor squabbles. Remember when he called Putin a “genius” and suggested the U.S. should just get out of the way? These past statements paint a troubling picture of what could unfold when Trump’s negotiators meet Putin. It would be a disaster if the President were to push for a deal that allows Russia to continue its imperial expansion at the expense of Ukraine’s sovereignty. Trump may claim to be the man who “gets things done,” but if he backs Putin’s outrageous demands, he’ll be nothing more than an accomplice in a strategy of capitulation.

If Trump chooses to favor Putin, the United States will have to make a choice: Will we let Ukraine fall to Putin’s whims, or will we step up and provide the support Ukraine desperately needs to survive? It’s not just about military weapons, although that is an urgent need. Ukraine also requires critical intelligence and strategic support to stand a chance against Russia’s overwhelming military. With Trump’s administration taking a more cautious approach, it will ultimately fall to the European Union to step in and take the lead.

Here’s where the stakes are raised. The EU has long dragged its feet on this issue, playing the role of reluctant bystander while Ukraine takes the blows. If the United States under Trump refuses to take a firm stance against Putin, the EU will have no choice but to significantly increase its involvement; not just in terms of defense aid, but in shaping a future for Ukraine outside of Russia’s suffocating grasp. The alternative? A Europe fractured, with a Kremlin-hungry for more territory and influence, while the memory of Ukraine’s struggle is quickly erased.

Let’s get one thing straight: Putin’s peace talks are a farce. He has no intention of ending this war; he wants to claim victory, not negotiate it. The question is, can Donald Trump and his negotiators see through the smoke and mirrors of this sham? Can he choose the future of Ukraine over the siren call of Moscow’s deals?

It’s a question that could shape not just Ukraine’s future, but Europe’s and America’s as well. Let’s hope that when Trump meets with Putin, he knows that peace doesn’t come from bending the knee; it comes from standing strong in defense of what’s right. The future of Ukraine, and maybe the world, depends on it.

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