The new American president Donald Trump must adopt a tougher approach than Joseph Biden to facilitate the end of the war in Ukraine.
This is stated by historian, columnist, and foreign policy analyst Max Boot.
The columnist for The Washington Post refers to Trump's book "The Art of the Deal," where the author emphasizes the importance of negotiating from a position of strength. According to Trump, the primary tool for this is leverage.
He notes that Washington has significant leverage over Kyiv; however, its influence over Moscow remains limited. For example, the cessation of military aid could put Ukraine in a vulnerable position, forcing it to seek a compromise on unfavorable terms. Boot believes that a strategic move would be to present Putin with an ultimatum regarding the expansion of military support for Ukraine, as well as lifting restrictions on long-range strikes on Russian territory if the war does not come to an end.
"Trump could reach an agreement by being tougher than the infuriating Biden, who limited the use of transferred equipment," Boot notes.
The historian is convinced that Putin would be more likely to halt the offensive if he believes that Trump is prepared to increase support for Ukraine.
Another challenge is ensuring compliance with peace agreements, as Russia has already violated such arrangements. The implementation of these agreements may require Western troops on the ceasefire line and security guarantees for Ukraine.
“Is Trump ready for such a step? This certainly contradicts his isolationist instincts, but as he wrote: 'I also protect myself by being flexible. I never get tied to one agreement or one approach,'” Boot recalls.
The historian doubts that there will be a radical change in the course of support for Ukraine, but he considers this a move that is personally advantageous for Trump if he does not want to have the image of a "loser" in foreign policy matters.
“Trump must realize that the loss of Ukrainian independence during his presidency would leave a stain on his reputation—similar to how the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan hurt Biden's ratings. At the same time, if Trump can manage to stop the war on terms acceptable to Ukraine, he could claim an achievement that Biden did not manage to secure.”
Source: Washington Post