Vladimir Putin is still demanding the moon for a full Ukraine ceasefire; peacemaking President Donald Trump may soon need to drop the niceties and break out the sticks.
If he does, most Americans will back him.
In their talk Tuesday, Trump did get Putin to agree to “an energy and infrastructure ceasefire,” plus formal negotiations toward “a full ceasefire and permanent peace,” per a White House readout.
The Kremlin also flagged a small Ukraine-Russia prisoner exchange to begin Wednesday.
It’s a start, but Putin’s publicly ruling out a ceasefire unless he first gets a total halt on all foreign military aid and intelligence-sharing to Ukraine.
If he insists on that, it’s time for those sticks — whether harsher sanctions on Putin & Co. or more-lethal aid to Ukraine.
Hard to believe Vlad truly expects Donald Trump to give up all his own leverage up-front, or give Moscow every incentive to drag out talks while it rampages over Kyiv’s suddenly hobbled and -blinded forces, or preps a devastating attack like the one it failed to pull off three years back.
Reality check: Trump’s no dummy, and Americans aren’t on Russia’s side.
The guy’s a savage brute who bullies neighbors, poisons his enemies, represses his own people, terrorizes civilians, even kidnaps children.
Notably, US public support for Kyiv is growing, a new Gallup poll found: 46% of Americans think Washington isn’t doing enough to help Ukraine, the highest level of support Ukraine’s enjoyed here since the war began — up 16 points since December and 21 since October.
Meanwhile, the share who think we’re doing too much has plunged from 37% in December to 30%.
And a majority, 53%, actually want to help Ukraine reclaim territory it’s lost to Russia, even if it prolongs the conflict — vs. 45% who want to end it quickly and let Russia keep land it’s stolen.
Trump is right to try to end the war, but getting to peace will require strength — including, if Putin keeps playing games, strengthening Ukraine.
Remember, Russia itself is running out of manpower and materiel.
Its economy is in the gutter.
If Putin realizes he could face a freshly fortified Ukraine if refuses to talk turkey, then a cease-fire, maybe even a lasting peace deal, should suddenly look more attractive.
