‘Must end’: Sign Donald Trump could pull off the unthinkable in Ukraine

Donald Trump’s epic showdown with Volodymyr Zelensky sparked global outrage – but there might be a lot more to it.

OPINION
Two things can be true at once – Ukraine should be defended, and the war with Russia must end.

Ending the war is, in reality, the best way to secure the defence of Ukraine long-term.

Much has been made of the blow-up between US President Donald Trump, his Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

However crude and unedifying the airing of dirty laundry might be, it was a conversation that needed to happen.

In fact, it’s a conversation that’s happened before – when Joe Biden was president.

NBC reported a phone conversation between Mr Biden and Mr Zelensky in 2022, shortly after the Russian invasion began, in which the former US leader confirmed another $1 billion of military aid.

Mr Zelensky, according to sources present, then hit Mr Biden with a list of other demands, to which the 46th president lost his temper and shouted to Mr Zelensky that he should show a little more gratitude.

So spare me the carry on about how Mr Trump’s conversation – which was on similar lines – was an abandonment of Ukraine.

Is US President Donald Trump really abandoning Ukraine? Picture: Roberto Schmidt/AFP

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has to concede at least some land in order for the war to end. Picture: Justin Tallis – WPA Pool/Getty Images

I have previously spoken about the imperative to save Ukraine against Russian invasion and after backing Mr Trump’s desire to end this war on Sky News this week, I’ve received emails from viewers accusing me of treachery.

My view has not changed. But this has gone on for too long – three years this war has lasted.

Mr Trump is not abandoning Ukraine. He is trying to end a pointless and costly war.

Ukraine has spent $A448.5 billion on the war so far.

More than a million people are estimated to have died on both sides during the conflict, according to some reports.

And for what? There is no way to simply end this war militarily.

Russia cannot bomb the living daylights out of Ukraine and claim the whole country, because that would draw the NATO forces of Europe and the US into a full-blown war and you’d have World War III.

Nor can NATO and the US put boots on the ground, because Russia would call in China and then you’d also have World War III.

Caleb Bond says the war has to end – one way or another. Picture: Instagram

Russia has captured about one-fifth of Ukraine. Picture: Mikhail Metzel/Pool/AFP

So, if the war continues, both sides just keep feeding young men into the woodchipper forever until someone finally relents – which is unlikely to be Russia.

Ukraine and Russia seemingly have a willingness to end the war, but the problem is, it will not happen without concessions on both sides.

Russia has captured about one-fifth of Ukraine. You’re not getting that back without World War III and, on a global scale, the reclamation of that land is clearly not worth the destruction it would cause.

So Mr Zelensky has to concede at least some of that land in order for the war to end – but, for moral reasons, he seems unwilling to do so.

You can understand why – Russia started this war and hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian men have died to defend that land, so how can you justify to your people that it should be handed over? Why should he give the aggressors an inch?

For one simple reason: you want to still have a country and population to defend.

I get that morally, it’s not ideal. But, long term, it is the best option for the safety and security of Ukraine and its people.

If you can think of another way to end the war in a peaceful manner, then let me know. I’ll wait.

More than a million people are estimated to have died on both sides during the conflict. Picture: Stringer/AFP

Mr Zelensky is approaching this – and again, you can understand to some degree why – with pride rather than pragmatism. But that will only lead to more deaths.

That is why Mr Trump no longer wants to fund Ukraine’s military. Not because he’s Vladimir Putin’s lapdog, but because if the US keeps paying, then the war will keep going with no end in sight and they’ll be on the hook for funding in perpetuity with nothing to show for it except rampant death.

There has to be a circuit breaker to end this war and that is what Mr Trump is trying to provide.

That, unfortunately, requires concessions by Ukraine.

There is no way to force Russia’s hand, when it has an unholy alliance with China, to end the war.

It’s sad – but it’s the truth.

Originally published as ‘Must end’: Sign Donald Trump could pull off the unthinkable in Ukraine