Reporter's Notebook : A 'Letter' To Zelesnkyy Re The Peace Plan
Having covered Ukraine … and Russia … for over three decades, especially the war between the two countries for the last several years, I’ve naturally been fascinated by the latest...
By Fox News · Fox News
Having covered Ukraine … and Russia … for over three decades, especially the war between the two countries for the last several years, I’ve naturally been fascinated by the latest Trump administration effort to broker peace. The reaction I’ve been getting from contacts in Ukraine to the 28-point plan to end the war is not all that positive. "It’s not worth the paper it’s written on," said one observer. "Any deal would have to include Ukraine…and Europe," noted another. The overall consensus of analysts is that the document is slanted heavily towards Moscow. The man at the center of things, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has been diplomatic in various statements, basically saying he’s "reviewing the points" aiming at arriving at a "dignified peace." US AND RUSSIA DRAFT PEACE PLAN FOR UKRAINE REQUIRING MAJOR CONCESSIONS FROM KYIV There are all sorts of talks happening now between the U.S. and Ukraine and among European leaders. We’re even hearing from Russian President Vladmimir Putin. It's no wonder: The stakes in this war for Europe and the world are enormous. If I were to send a quick note to Zelenskyy, it would go something like this: Dear Volodymyr, So far so good. You haven’t freaked out, and you’re promising to engage. Rejection of this plan out of hand would have been a non-starter. TRUMP, ZELENSKYY AGREE ON CRUCIAL ASPECT TO END UKRAINE WAR: 'GOOD COMPROMISE' You’re staying cool (though a bit grim and determined), and you’re talking to people. My overall advice is ... pick your fights, don’t sweat the small stuff, and keep the big picture in mind. I know what your country is going through. Every time I’m in Kyiv, I go to the same military cemetery outside the city, and it keeps getting bigger and bigger and sadder. TRUMP’S FIRE FADES ON RUSSIA AS HE PULLS TROOPS, AVOIDS PRESSING XI ON OIL So, as to the points of the plan: There are a lot easy "gimmes" to Russia. Re-joining the G-8 . Gradual dropping of sanctions. Granting of amnesty for everything…