Truth Matters: Speaking with Putin
In the news conference following the talk with Russian President Vladimir Putin, U.S. President Donald Trump made it absolutely clear that he had been impeded in his ability to participate in the talk by “the Russian hoax” which had been used against him during his first term in office.
Why was that? The hoax, of course, had claimed Trump was a puppet of the Russian leader. Add to that the fact to that, in his book “The Art of the Deal” the Donald sets forth his principles of bargaining which includes a strict prohibition against criticizing the individual with which he is trying to make the deal. Remember how positive he was in assessing the head of North Korea while speaking to him about the need to open up his country to the West? If he had taken a similar attitude back then when speaking with Putin, Trump’s enemies would have seen his actions as proof of his puppet status. Trump, therefore, had to wait until his current term to hold the conference with Putin.
Putin, for his part, used an historical approach when speaking of their conference. He emphasized that the United States had backed Russia during WWII and noted how close Alaska was to the tip of Siberia. We were, in his words, “neighbors.” He also invited Trump to a follow-up meeting in Moscow.
The historical approach is, of course, a double edged sword. China wants to invade Taiwan because it was once a part of pre-communist China. China also wants to eventually retake Siberia from Russia because it was once in Chinese hands (and has a large chunk of the world’s fresh water supply). Russia, for its part, claims ownership of Ukraine because it was once a part of Mother Russia. Russia is also well aware that Alaska was part of Russia until the Czar sold it to the United States. Russia is not adverse to retaking Alaska. For now, however, Putin is emphasizing that good neighbor Alaska helped defend Russia against the Nazis.
We have not been told the specifics of the talks (except that Trump emphasized there were many points of agreement along with one area of disagreement they were working on). Remember that Trump will maintain a positive attitude throughout the talks (speaking well of his opponent while attempting to win him over on issues). We will hear the negative when Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Europe react to reports they receive of the conference. Notice that the press attending the press conference was not given an opportunity to ask Putin negative questions.
The Democrats, of course, saw the meeting as an embarrassment for America and totally devoid of positive results. That is a difficult position to hold when the specifics of the meeting are still secret. For all we know, Putin may have agreed to repatriate the exiled Ukranian children being held in Russia. He may have agreed to a prisoner swap. We don’t know. It would be nice if politicians would be willing to set aside their war drums long enough to gather facts and determine whether it is in our country’s best interests for them to speak or hold their tongues.
One thing did come out which probably infuriated the Democrats. Putin corroborated Trump by stating that if Trump had been president at the time, he would not have invaded Ukraine. By that statement, the war became “Biden’s War.”
It also becomes apparent that Trump may be able to come to an agreement with Putin in a way that Zelenskyy can accept. Only time will tell. Will it be necessary to force the world to boycott Russian oil? Will Putin agree to a cease fire without having to be coerced? Will Putin and Zelenskyy ever agree on matters of territory?
It’s too soon to tell.