Handing Western Donetsk to Putin would put post-war peacekeepers at risk, says former ambassador
US and European peacekeeping forces will be at “much greater risk” if Russia is given the rest of the Donbas, says former US ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst.
This is because a belt of Ukrainian fortress cities run along the frontline which Russian forces would be allowed to walk through to much more open terrain if Vladimir Putin is handed western Donetsk.
“President Trump, if he were to proceed this way, could be giving his successor a serious strategic dilemma,” says Herbst.
But he is talking about backing European troops if Russia started shooting at them and “that’s a big deal”.
“Trump never expressed an interest in what most people would call a just peace, meaning Ukraine getting all of its land back, Russia paying massive reparations, Russia returning those 20,000 kidnapped children.
“But Trump has been adamant about achieving a durable peace. And while that’s not wonderful, it’s not terrible either.”
Herbst adds: “If Trump pursues that with the strength of the United States, Putin will have no choice but to submit.