With Putin’s reelection all but assured, Russia’s opposition still vows to undermine his image
Associated PressDec 05, 2023
GOP Senator Says Ukraine Must 'Cede' Land to Russia
Image copyright: Anna Moneymaker [via Getty Images]
The Facts
Sen. JD Vance (R-OH) on Sunday said that it was in "America's best interest" to push Ukraine "to cede some territory to the Russians" and end the war, questioning, "What is $61B going to accomplish that $100B hasn't."
Vance's comments follow Pulitzer Prize winner US journalist Seymour Hersh's claim that a secret Ukraine-Russia peace deal — under which Moscow could allow Kyiv to join NATO provided Crimea is allowed to remain with Russia and elections are held in Moscow-annexed regions — is on the cards.
The Spin
Anti-Russia narrative
While politicians calling for an end to Ukraine aid are correct that Kyiv will have to give up land, what they don't understand is that Putin will want more territory than the select number of regions currently talked about. Such a concession would also show other authoritarian regimes, like Beijing, that the strong can always bully the weak — a precedent that will put Taiwan at risk of Beijing and former Soviet states at the will of Putin or whoever takes his place when he dies. This is a war for the future of the world, not just Ukraine.
Pro-Russia narrative
As the pro-war establishment watches its proxy war in Ukraine come to an embarrassing end, those at the top, namely Pres. Biden, are showing the world what they've truly cared about all along — fighting Russia. To garner support for such a foolish war, Washington has deployed fear tactics like saying Putin will go on to attack other Western nations. If this war does expand beyond Ukrainian borders, the world must know that it was Washington, not Moscow, who provoked it.
Narrative C
The war with Russia is in a stalemate. The Ukrainian counteroffensive hasn't met expectations, war fatigue is growing, and Ukrainians face a bleak winter. Kyiv's refusal to negotiate with Moscow has only caused the country heavy battlefield casualties, and it would take a massive technological leap to break the status quo. While the US stays committed to supporting Ukraine, now is the right time to start thinking about how the war can be brought to a close.