End The Russia-Ukraine War By The Holidays

As the days grow shorter and temperatures turn chilly, especially in the northern U.S., minds start to turn toward the upcoming holiday season. For too many Americans, though, paying for heat will present a hardship this winter, as heating oil and other fuel prices have soared, in large part because of the ongoing Black Sea war.

While the situation may be frustrating for Americans, it looms as a downright miserable and dangerous one for Ukrainians. Those war-weary citizens face the likely turmoil of consumer product shortages and regular power outages due to ongoing Russian strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure, from warehouses to pipelines. These privations will unfold during the harsh Ukrainian winter, exacerbating the pain.

But instead of pursuing a reasonable peace with intensity and diligence, Volodymyr Zelensky chooses instead to engage in yet another media tour of Western capitals, to be feted by the usual suspects of media mavens, multilateralists, celebrities, and arms-makers.

His appearance on Piers Morgan's program was especially tone deaf and insulting to the American people, who have quite literally saved his life and preserved his country in the face of a brutal invasion. Among the many offensive statements of that complaint fest, this one struck the worst chord of all:

Piers Morgan: “Do you feel betrayed by what has been happening [with President Trump]?”

Volodymyr Zelensky: “Yes.”

Wow.

The U.S. taxpayers have borrowed hundreds of billions of dollars that we do not have, to support the Ukrainian war effort and save that nation from complete annihilation. Regardless, Zelensky dares to proclaim such derision? This level of appalling ingratitude compels a viscerally negative reaction within America, at least on the populist Right…which happens to be the governing political movement of the country, at present.

Unfortunately, it becomes increasingly clear that the interests of Zelensky and those of the American people simply do not align. For this reason, President Trump rightly reacted:

"Zelensky is not a good guy for us to deal with... If they're going to end up with a settlement of some kind, they're not going to do it with him. He doesn't want to settle. He says he wants to settle, but he doesn't."

Vice-President JD Vance expounded on the separation between Zelensky and the goals of the United States:

“Ukraine is a partner in some ways, but the US and Ukraine have divergent interests. Do I think Ukraine should be bombing Russian diesel facilities that raise the cost of energy for Americans? No. Ukraine should stop bombing Russian energy.”

Both Trump and Vance realize that the generosity of the American people is not without limits. The tough reality of diesel prices well above $6/gallon confounds Americans and convinces most citizens that this Slavic regional ethnic conflict simply must conclude, or else continue on without American involvement.

Earlier this year, the League of American Workers sponsored a poll by TIPP Insights of the military-heavy swing state of North Carolina. It asked: “The US, Russia, and Ukraine continue to negotiate to end the war there. If a resolution cannot be reached in the next few months, is it time for the United States to begin disengaging from the Ukraine War?”

By a large +19% net margin, the voters of the Tar Heel State favored an end to America’s role there, 50-31%. Among young voters that margin soared to +42% net, 60-18%. Perhaps not surprisingly, fighting-age young Americans are not exactly enthusiastic about an escalating confrontation between the U.S. and Russia.

Regarding polling, perhaps the most important numbers on voter preferences actually come from inside Ukraine itself. Respected Ukrainian pollster Sociopolis Research recently conducted a nationwide survey and found that Zelensky would substantially lose in a long-overdue election.

Right now, in the most likely runoff scenario, with former commander of Ukraine’s armed forces, General Valerie Zaluzhnyi against Zelensky, the challenger Zaluzhnyi prevails in a +18% landslide, 46-28%.

That same poll reveals the widespread popular aversion to the systemic corruption that grips the government of Ukraine, and the voters there understandably blame Zelensky. In fact, a stunning 75% of Ukrainians believe that corruption has increased during the war. In contrast, the former military chief, General Zaluzhnyi, has earned a sterling reputation for integrity, as verified by the survey. Paradoxically, Zaluzhnyi’s strong ethics and character likely prompted Zelensky to fire him.

It seems increasingly clear, then, that Zelensky’s selfish interests are served best by a continuation of the war as the legal pretext to avoid a plebiscite.

But America sets very different goals, especially now. America is not a piggy bank for corrupt politicians hell-bent on endless fighting an ocean away from our homeland. President Trump, U.S. negotiator Steve Witkoff, and others feverishly work for peace – which would arrive as a particularly wonderful Christmas present to the people of Ukraine, Russia, and the United States.

Steve Cortes is president of the League of American Workers and advisor to Catholic Vote. He directs political campaigns on media, polling, and Hispanic outreach, including Trump 2016/2020 and Vance 2022 U.S. Senate. He is a former broadcaster for Fox News and CNN.

Original article link: RealClearPolitics