Putin will never give in

Ukraine may be ready to give in – but Russia never will

Johan Mathias Sommarström

This is a commentary text. This is a commentary text. Analysis and positions are the writer's.

Published 21.38

 

Putin shows no willingness to compromise. Photo: AP

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, many believed they would subdue the country within a few days. Almost four years later, Russia refuses to budge an inch from its demands. It is difficult to see where US President Trump gets his optimism from.

A Ukrainian president who is scolded and ridiculed in the White House. A wanted suspected war criminal in the form of Russian President Putin who is invited to Alaska.

28-point peace proposal that becomes 19. The US president's frustrated messages in CAPITAL LETTERS on social media about a lack of gratitude.

The diplomatic game and the attempts to achieve peace offer a kind of tragicomic entertainment before the open curtain.

At the same time,  Ukrainians wake up almosst every night to new attacks. The deadly annoying sound of the drone swarms that buzz ominously through the darkness of the night and find their way to residential buildings and energy facilities.

The cities on the front have been destroyed. Artillery and bombs leave only ruins. As if a war giant had furiously advanced and left deep scratch marks across entire communities. Soldiers are thrown into the war like coal was once shoveled into the fires of a steam locomotive. Lives on a measured time.

The peace attempts are more nomerous and more intense than before. But it is at best one step forward and one step back. Hopes are dashed.

Many are now pinning their hopes on a planned meeting between US President Trump and Ukraine's Zelensky. Especially after Trump declared that they are now approaching a settlement, that only details remain.

But it is precisely in the details that the devil lives.

To put it bluntly. Russia wants Ukrainian territory, Ukraine wants to keep its country. Russia wants to limit Ukraine's military and its possibilities to join NATO. Ukraine fears that its powerful neighbor will continue to be a threat and is not prepared to be left without defense and guarantees.

 

So where does Trump's optimism come from? Photo: Hu Yousong / Stella

Russia has publicly shown no willingnees to compromise, they want, must have parts of Ukraine. Preferably more than they have already fought for. They think they have already counted the Crimean peninsula and Donbass home.

Ukraine denies this, even though there are increasing signs that they will ultimately be forced to give up land, like when Finland lost Karelia after the Winter War.

Russia also has the resources and manpower to continue the war and the longer it goes on, the greater the advantage they hope to gain.

It is therefore a bit difficult to see Trump's great optimism.

All we have seen so far are proposals for Ukrainian concessions, the victim who is forced to reward his aggressor. That in the future there would be no obstacles for a stronger state to forcibly seize what is not even their own.

So where doseTrump's optimism come from ?

Neither Ukraine nor Europe are prepared to completely capitulate, so the only thing left is to completely abandon Ukraine or make tougher demands on Russia. Perhaps Trump sees a war weariness in the Kremlin that no one else sees, perhaps he can damage its limping economy with new stinging sanctions or is it just a way to publicly put pressure on a recalcitrant regime?

Because even if Ukraine were to agree to an updated version of a peace plan, there is no indication that Russia will do so. They are still where they were in 2022 and show no remorse for constantly throwing new soldiers to their deaths at the front, to bite by bite, slowly trying to bite their way through the Ukrainian defenses.

An attempt to redraw the map by force and the question that remains after the peace talks – will offensive war pay off?