U.S. must defend Ukraine while pushing for peace

Combat, destruction and death continue 3½ years after Russia launched its war on Ukraine. Peace remains widely desired, except perhaps by Vladimir Putin's government. During last year’s campaign, President Donald Trump vowed to resolve this foreign conflict "on day one." This proved ridiculous. Nearly six months into his second administration, the bottom line is that there’s no ceasefire.

This week, the White House said weapons shipments are resuming to Ukraine. Last week, the Pentagon had ordered some deliveries held back. The significance of this start-and-stop is unclear. Equipment at issue includes heavy munitions such as 155 mm artillery and precision-guided rockets that Ukraine needs to rebuff Russian missiles.

After returning for a second term, Trump resumed his overall coolness toward NATO. He’s openly kissed up to Putin. He falsely chided President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Ukraine started the war.

Some hoped that if Trump shifted from President Joe Biden’s unwavering support of Ukraine, he could somehow get the Kremlin to bend to a settlement.

That isn’t happening.

On Wednesday, Russia hit Ukraine with a massive missile and drone attack. Hours earlier, Trump indulged in a profanity-laced rant in which he said he’s unhappy with Putin for "killing a lot of people."

What’s next? There’s no clear separation left between NATO and the U.S. Notably, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, while a senator, was firmly aligned with other Republicans and Democrats, who supported standing up to Russian aggression, a decade ago, after Putin annexed Crimea.

Last month, NATO nations agreed to increase defense-related spending to 5% of gross domestic product by 2035, a big concession to Trump’s concerns.

Logically enough, Trump has expressed support for harsh congressional sanctions against Moscow that appear likely to pass. As Sen. Lindsey Graham points out, China could help if it demanded Putin stop the bombing.

Endless war in Eastern Europe is not predestined. But the president must know by now that Putin does not want peace, only Ukraine's surrender. Trump still has a chance to show there was some grain of truth in his old "art of the deal" conceit. He should listen carefully to seasoned professional diplomats and veteran elected officials. 

At 79, Trump might still learn things. For one, earning a desired Nobel Prize, an aspiration of his, will require brokering something close to an honest peace accord. Any success at all, even a provisional ceasefire, could benefit everyone in the American sphere of influence, including our country.

The U.S. needs to take a balanced position that defends Ukraine’s sovereignty while staying alert for an opening to a peace deal. Trump should resolve not to return to his public kowtowing to Putin and heed serious analysts, not TV talkers, if he wants to be known as a peacemaker.