Opinion and Commentary By Donna Westfall – January 31, 2025
A year ago, Trump said if he were President he would end the Russia-Ukraine War in the first 24 hours of his Presidency.
A year later, Trump is in office and ending the War in 24 hours is no longer going to happen and the reasons why are complicated.
What does Russia want? Simplistically, Putin wants President Zelinsky of Ukraine removed from office. They don’t want Ukraine to join NATO. They want the country back. Actually, I don’t even care why Russia wants Ukraine. I just want to see the war stopped.
What does Pres. Zelinsky want? He wants US troops on the front lines fighting along with his soldiers. Not going to happen. Billions of dollars in equipment and armaments have been sent to his country by us taxpayers. And then we have to wonder if any graft or corruption took place with any of our countrymen wanting a little extra for their own pockets.
Ukrainians are no dummies. They repeatedly attack Russian oil refineries. That has got to put a dent in Russia’s ability to fight. Their Ryazan refinery was hit and was one of 10 refineries that supplies the Russian troops.
What does Pres. Trump and Marco Rubio want? Rubio has been called a war monger by some, but when it comes to ending the conflict, he’s in lock step with Trump.
How in the world can Trump have enough impact to end the war?
Part of it gets back to economics. Russia has lots of oil/gas reserves. With Ukraine’s drone attacks on the Russian refineries, the Russian economy is going to suffer. With less to offer for export, their income will suffer. A good portion of their exports go to China and it won’t hurt Trump’s feelings if China can’t ship any more fentanyl into our country because they lack oil/gas reserves.
Saudi Arabia has been asked by Pres. Trump to produce more gas and to lower their prices. Most likely this will put a noose around Russia’s neck.
I can only imagine that Trump will continue to twist that noose until Putin calls out, “Uncle.”
Right now it’s anyone’s guess when this war will end.
