Ukraine's Destiny In The Balance: Trump-Putin Negotiations To End Ukraine War Continue Tomorrow

President Donald Trump is set to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin tomorrow to continue the ongoing negotiations to end the Russo-Ukrainian War, the largest conflict in Europe since World War II and the most dangerous escalation between the NATO alliance and Russia in probably the entirety of the Cold War.

So far, acting as the middle-man between Russia and Ukraine has yielded only mixed results.

In his typical bombastic bravado that many have become accustomed to, Trump promised to effectively end the war or at least bring about a cease-fire even before he assumed the office of the Presidency. This task, however, has proven much more complicated and difficult than wishful thinking could hope to bring about.

With funding for Ukraine's war efforts dwindling or frozen, Russia has been gaining ground on the battlefield and has nearly completely retaken the ground lost in their own Kursk region. Further gains are being made by the Russians within Ukraine, slowly but surely, as the Ukrainians lose both man-power and ammunition and are resorting to literally dragging (kicking and screaming) civilians off the streets of Kiev to ship them to the front lines. 

A 30-Day ceasefire was floated, but was flatly rejected by Russia, as it offered no benefit to their armies on the move but gave Ukraine the opportunity to simply rest and re-arm.

Not a very well-thought out proposal.

With Zelensky's political life most likely tied directly to the war, it could be speculated that his interest in continuing it may perhaps be more personal than in the objective interest of his nation, at this point. 

This makes it entirely possible that the advancement of any peace deals with Russia may call for the resignation of Zelensky, as well as the restoration of democratic elections in Ukraine - which have been cancelled under his tenure. 

If he resigns, he may have the opportunity to even save face, politically, as he may then be able to at least retain his image as Ukraine’s warrior-hero who fought bravely against a superior enemy - at the behest of Western puppet-masters who funded him. 

But nevermind that part - surely those who support the elites in Kiev will bury that part in the history books. 

Indeed, the central role of the United States in talks to end this terrible war only highlights the truth that Russia has claimed all along - that the war was truly between Russia and NATO (i.e., the United States), with Ukraine serving as its the Western proxy. 

How sad for Ukraine. 

For while the desire for Ukraine to be a strong and independent nation is certainly one most could support, the way they went about doing it was fundamentally misguided and poorly thought-out. 

They wanted so badly to be part of the West. They thought the West would be their friends. 

But in the end, they were only used by us, and while their relationship with Russia has certainly been complex and imperfect, it turns out that they would have been better off finding a way to get along with them than fight a deadly war with them. 

Ironically, the name “Ukraine” itself means “borderlands.” As in the borderlands between the Rus (including the Kievan Rus) and the rest of the European tribal nations. Ukraine had (and still has) a destiny to be a strong, sturdy bridge between the East and West. A bridge that can stand independent and not be manipulated by one or the other. 

But with this war provoked by NATO by using the recklessness of Ukrainian ultra-nationalists, the work to achieve that destiny has faltered and been put in jeopardy entirely. 

Any outcome to this war will end with the relinquishing of Ukrainian land that was originally drawn-up by Moscow anyway during the days of the Soviet Union. And this is the way of war and nations - as often, the borders and identity of a nation are forged in the flames of war. 

And so the borders of the new Ukraine will not look like the borders of Soviet Ukraine.

And its identity as a nation will certainly evolve - through this conflict and its resolution, and its chosen politcal footsteps in the future. 

But if they are not careful, their identity will only be that of a pawn. 

For their own sakes, as well as the sake of the world, they must choose to be stronger than that - and the first step is to finally end this wretched war.