The USA has been clear that it seeks peace in Ukraine.

At the risk of stating the obvious, everyone seeks peace except Vladimir Putin. There are differences on how best to achieve that goal.

President Trump believes that he can make a deal with President Putin that will end the war quickly. He is confident that this is the best way.

Ukraine and Europe have a more nuanced view. Peace, yes, but one that will last. Trusting Putin is fine, as long as that trust is backed with cast iron, enforceable guarantees. While President Trump takes President Putin at his word, those in Europe remember that Russia has given its word on multiple occasions since the 1990s and reneged every single time.

Current fashion, led by Prime Minister Starmer and President Macron is that a peace deal can be arrived at quickly as per President Trump's wishes, as long as the USA will "backstop" a largely European peacekeeping force inside the "new" borders of Ukraine. Backstop includes intelligence support and a promise to turn its military might against Russia in the event of a treaty breach or further aggression.

Hmmm...

The last thing Putin wants is a NATO force in Ukraine. Taking the NATO badge off British and French uniforms won't fool him, canny old fox that he is.

Trump points out that there is no need for a force - he'll have a deal. Boss Hogg (JD Vance), helpfully chipped in.

"The very best security guarantee is to give Americans economic upside in the future of Ukraine. That is a way better security guarantee than 20,000 troops from some random country that hasn't fought a war in 30 or 40 years."

I suggest he might want to rethink that sort of commentary anywhere in the EIGHTY countries who rallied to the Stars and Stripes after 9/11. He has the charm of a slug and a brain the size of a peanut. He's a disgrace to the United States.

I have no idea why Starmer/Macron think they can get agreement on their peacekeeping force. I suspect putting your hand on Vladimir's knee will be less effective than it was with big Don.

The peace at all costs argument overlooks several salient facts. Neither Trump nor Putin wants peacekeepers. Ukraine does not want to give Russia a chance to consolidate its gains and rebuild its forces. If Putin is led to believe that US and Europe will allow him to invade countries and take land at will, then he'll do it again. He'll learn lessons and get better at it.

So what is the solution?

President Trump has been clear that he's no longer interested in the US paying to be the leader of the free world. From now on, he requires minerals and condos. Starmer and Macron need to use their considerable political skills to accidentally do a huge arms deal. The biggerest, besterest arms deal ever. A beautiful arms deal. In return for an undertaking not to sell to Russia, Trump agrees to let US companies sell Ukraine whatever hardware it wants. Europe agrees to pay for it. Ukraine agrees to take back its land and no more.

You want Putin to negotiate? Put him on his arse.

The "Special Operation" in Ukraine has been an unmitigated disaster for Putin. His forces, vastly superior in numbers have been decimated by ferocious Ukranian resistance, backed up by US and European support. He's begging North Korea for troops. His economy is in the toilet, propped up only by Chinese support. Ukraine will defeat him for all of us.

You want Trump to do something useful? Let Donald show the world how his America First policy has generated a massive deal, bringing money to his mates the United States.

The Ukrainians, fully loaded and confident that Europe is behind them, will push the Russians back, particularly if there is a serious effort to take the economy down, too.

Then, the Donald can rescue Vlad. Donald can agree to intercede with Europe in return for minerals and condos (in Russia). He can convince Putin that Russia is plenty big enough for them to work together and make a fortune. Sure - I daresay we can even organise a Nobel peace prize for both of them. Matching villas in Florida?

There are risks to this - of course, but appeasing Putin didn't work in 2014 and won't in 2025.

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