They could not convince Putin. The war will enter its sixth year

It was impossible to convince Putin. The war will enter its sixth year

The war that Russia started in Ukraine, aiming to "finish in three days," is now set to drag on into its sixth year. Trump's son-in-law Kushner and his builder friend Witkoff traveled first to Moscow and then to Kyiv to hold negotiations. This time too, as expected, they failed to achieve any results regarding ending the war.

From the very beginning, I had a negative view of Donald Trump's friend Steven Witkoff participating in negotiations of this level. Because professional diplomats, not billionaires who got rich selling apartment buildings, should participate in negotiations to stop the largest war occurring in the world since World War II. Trump's son-in-law Kushner is also, at most, a money-maker who knows how to get rich from some business with the help of his father-in-law.

Diplomacy is an art, not speculation. At a time when the world's major publications are writing that "Trump's envoys achieved no results," pay attention to Mr. Witkoff's words: "I think we made significant progress in Moscow, we heard new ideas." It is not difficult to guess what kind of "new ideas" these are. For example, Putin probably said that for the war to end, Ukraine must now withdraw not only from Donbas, but also from Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Sumy.

Gentlemen, what can be expected in war negotiations from a billionaire who praises Putin with sweet words every time he goes to Moscow, excitedly saying, "Putin held a candle in his church and prayed for Trump"? I have no doubt that the son-in-law Kushner and the builder Witkoff do not know which part of Ukraine Russia has occupied now, where the front is frozen, or what Donbas itself means. If you don't believe it, ask these two where the Sumy region is located, or who Gomel belongs to — they won't be able to answer. These people were simply told: you will go first to Moscow, then to Kyiv, and say these words.

A person participating in negotiations of an entire war should not act as a postman, carrying words back and forth; this can be done over the phone or in a chat on the Signal messenger, which those in the White House like.

It seems very strange to me that people negotiating on behalf of the entire United States speak from such a soft position. Let's say, if some country mediates in the hope of earning "political points" and says things that please both sides, saying, "come on, let's not fight," it can be understood. But I think people speaking on behalf of a powerful country like America should have a much bolder position. Or they should not participate in negotiations at all. What is the use of shooting into the air?