George Will on Trump's Misunderstanding of Putin's Ukraine Ambitions

Putin's Unwavering Ambitions

• 🎯 George Will argues that Western leaders, including Donald Trump, have consistently underestimated Ukraine's resilience and overestimated Russia's capacity.
• 💡 Putin's initial expectation of a swift victory in Kyiv, with soldiers bringing dress uniforms for a parade, highlights the miscalculation of the invasion's initial phase.

Trump's Shifting Stance on Putin

• 🎭 Will points out Donald Trump's evolving rhetoric regarding Vladimir Putin, from seeking a deal to expressing disappointment.
• ⚠️ Trump's past statements, such as suggesting Ukraine started the war and calling Zelensky a dictator, are cited as evidence of his lack of understanding of Putin's core objectives.
• 🔄 The reversal on sending new weapons is viewed with skepticism, as Trump's stance is seen as changeable as the wind, making negotiation difficult.

The Futility of Negotiation with Putin

• 🔑 Will questions what is left to negotiate, given that concessions like allowing Russia to keep stolen land (Crimea and a fifth of Ukraine) and promising Ukraine won't join NATO or the EU have already been implicitly offered.
• 📉 Putin's strategy is described as waiting for the next concession before engaging in serious negotiation.

Punitive Impulses and Intelligence

• ⚡ A past punitive action by the Trump administration involved denying Ukraine intelligence, justified by claims of low stockpiles, which Will finds indicative of a punitive impulse.
• 🧐 The argument that weapon stockpiles were low is contrasted with the availability of intelligence, suggesting a deeper issue in the administration's approach.