President Zelensky may now have an
opportunity to win the war with Russia.
It is widely believed that Trump was
able to get a cease fire in Gaza and the return of the hostages
because he put maximum pressure on all leaders in the Middle East,
especially Israel and Hamas . He put the pressure on these leaders
not because he had some altruistic goal to end the fighting and
suffering. He did it because he so badly wants a Nobel Peace Prize.
The fact that he didn't win this year may have provided an opening
for a new approach to the issue.
President Zelensky should contact the
Nobel Peace Prize Committee and tell them they have a chance to not
just reward people working for peace after the fact, they can
actually encourage peace themselves. Zelensky should talk to the
Committee and ask for a commitment to give Trump the peace prize if
he gets Putin to agree to and implement the following:
Complete cease fire and removal
from all hostile troops from Ukraine.
Return all Ukrainian territory
Russia has taken. That includes Crimea and the areas taken before
the most recent Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Return all the Ukrainian children
that were kidnapped.
Allow Ukraine security measures
like joining the European Union and NATO, and allowing U.S. and
European troops to train in Ukraine.
Zelensky could then go quietly to Trump
and explain if he can get Putin to agree to these four items, the
Nobel Committee has committed to give Trump the peace prize. All the
parties can agree to keep the agreement secret if that is needed.
Trump's ego will demand that he make
whatever effort is needed to accomplish the task. Full sanctions on Russia. Unlimited funds. Cruise missiles and other sophisticated equipment.
Given Trump's declining mental
abilities, I think he should be warned that starting a nuclear war
with Russia will invalidate the whole agreement.
