US says return to pre-2014 Ukraine borders ‘unrealistic’ and European security is no longer top priority – Europe live
US says return to pre-2014 Ukraine borders ‘unrealistic’ and European security is no longer top priority – Europe live
www.theguardian.com
Trump says he spoke with Putin and will start peace talks on Ukraine ‘immediately’ – as it happened
Returning to pre-2014 Ukraine borders ‘unrealistic’ and ‘illusory’ goal, US defence secretary says.
Continuing his speech, US defence secretary Peter Hegseth calls for “realistic assessment of the battlefield.”
"We want a sovereign and prosperous Ukraine. But we must start by recognising that returning to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic objective."
"Chasing this illusionary goal will only prolong the war and cause more suffering."
Not persuing that goal is repeating the same mistake: russia rearms and attacks again. It prolongs the war and causes more suffering.
It's not a mistake when it's intentional.
russia needs a good bonking ngl.
I think it went very well how Germany was beaten and split up after WW2. It turned out very well. Even most Germans think it went kinda well. Sure, everything was destroyed and many ppl died, but that's what you get for supporting a dictator and attack surrounding nations.
I think that, as with any war, there's never a solution that's going to please everyone.
Ending the war, by itself, is a good thing. That the US is getting mineral rights as part of the resolution is a great thing (at least for the billionaires) and that economic incentive will work to prevent any new outbreak of hostilities.
I hear Hitler was particularly displeased with the way WWII ended. Pleasing everyone ain't the goal here Skippy.
If either side thought that, there wouldn't be a war. Obviously there are "bad things" associated with ending the war that are considered worse than continuing it.
Do you think that if the Ukraine military and government surrendered completely today that it would mean peace? Not a chance. Russia would be oppressive and an uprising would begin the moment formal hostilities ended - as would be right and proper.
Russia does not have the manpower - in training or just raw numbers - to effectively occupy and quell rebellion in Ukraine. The result would be a bloody quagmire for at least a decade, and it would arguably be worse than the current formal hostilities.
If the war ends with unlawful territorial loss, then we all are in big trouble because it opens doors for more land grab. Not that Russia or US mind it, though.
You're a modern day Chamberlain. He thought Hitler would stop if they appeased him by letting him have part of Czechoslovakia.
I don't need to tell you it didn't work. Appeasing bullies never works.
If you give Putin part of Ukraine he will come for the rest in a few years. We already saw this with Crimea.
If the war stops today without returning a massive chunk of territories, the underground Ukrainian resistance will go on. There will be no war, but expect shootings, bomb on planes carrying russian officials, hostage takings... And probably not only in Russia or Ukraine.
Plus the added risk of US troops entering a war because it would just have signaled to Putin that with sacrificing under 1% of his population (800 000/ 130 million) is getting yourself territory like Poland or the Baltic's because the USA will always end up folding in front of their adversaries.
It's not a solution.