Free nations need to further ramp up production of 155mm artillery shells, drones, small arms, vehicles, and everything else Ukraine needs.
The Guardian is reporting that U.S. President Donald Trump is ‘stepping back‘ from efforts to end Russia’s war against Ukraine:
“Donald Trump intends to leave Russia and Ukraine to organize a meeting between their leaders without directly playing a role for now, according to administration officials familiar with the situation, taking a step back from the negotiations to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The next stage in Trump’s eyes to end the war in Ukraine remains a bilateral meeting between Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president, the officials said.
Trump has told advisers in recent days that he intends to host a trilateral meeting with the two leaders only after they have met first, although whether that initial conference takes place remains unclear and Trump does not intend to become involved in that effort.”
This comes as discussions over security guarantees and a post-war “Reassurance Force” for Ukraine. Notably, the United States continues to mull over a role in defending Ukraine in the air, with post-war ground forces likely to be provided by European nations:
Of course, post-war decisions can only be made when the war is over. While Ukraine has repeatedly agreed to immediate ceasefires (once demanded by the United States), Russia has refused, and continues to launch massive attacks on Ukraine:
“Russia launched 574 drones and 40 ballistic and cruise missiles overnight, the Ukrainian Air Force said. The attack mostly targeted western regions of the country where much of the military aid provided by Ukraine’s Western allies is believed to be delivered and stored. The strikes killed at least one person and injured 15 others, according to officials.
Zelenskyy condemned the attack amid the push for peace, saying it was carried out “as if nothing were changing at all.”
Russia doesn’t want peace; it wants the total subjugation of Ukraine
Russia doesn’t want peace. If Putin wanted to end the war, he could order Russian troops out of Ukrainian territory. He could announce a ceasefire along the current frontline – something Ukraine has already agreed to multiple times while Russia has refused.
Instead of pursuing peace, Putin continues to attack Ukraine and continues to make demands that are simply untenable:
“Reuters reports that Putin’s new proposal to end the war includes Ukraine ceding the remaining parts of Donbas, abandoning NATO ambitions, pledging neutrality and keeping Western troops out. In return, Russia would freeze the front lines in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.”
Putin wants Ukraine to give up territory that Russia doesn’t even hold, lose any chance of getting protection from NATO, lose any chance of getting a reassurance force from allies post-war, all in return for Russia pausing operations.
As you can imagine, that would leave Ukraine vulnerable to another Russian invasion. Ukraine would have no outside defensive help, and Russia, which has already shifted its economy into total war production, would stockpile munitions, repair damaged aircraft and vehicles, expand recruitment, and attack again.
What should Ukraine’s allies do?
Facing a Russia that refuses peace, Ukraine’s allies must increase Ukraine’s negotiating leverage. And that means send more military support to Ukraine. Ukraine needs 155mm artillery shells, drones, tanks, IFVs, small arms, and much more. While many of the countries supporting Ukraine – like Canada – have their military buildups to undertake, Russia is the most likely enemy we would face in a future war, and letting Russia conquer more of Ukraine would make Russia more powerful in that future conflict. Further, because allied military production is currently quite low compared to historical norms and full potential capacity, ramped-up production would enable us to both rebuild our forces and expand aid to Ukraine.
Russia continues to make a bet that Ukraine’s allies don’t have the staying power and will to support Ukraine and stand up to Russian aggression. We must prove Russia wrong.
Spencer Fernando
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