Above, John Simpson in 2015.
I admire the veteran BBC journalist John Simpson, CBE. Born on 9 August 1944 he is still working aged 81 when many a lot younger (such as Moi!) have retired.
I said I admire him. That does NOT mean I have revised my criticism of his employer the BBC!
Of course, from my standpoint (being born in the West Riding of the County of York) that he was born in the County Palatine of Lancaster is a definite minus!
However, I agree with John Simpson’s doom-laden assessment (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj4qp17e1lqo) of the situation in Ukraine.
Elsewhere on the BBC website we have this report (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c36z615y443o) entitled, “US offered Ukraine 15-year security guarantee, Zelensky says”.
In their joint video, the pro Ukrainian YouTubers, Professor Gerdes & Greg Terry (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDaveUzawJk) deliver, IMHO, a competent critique of the Ukraine/US summit at Mar-a-Lago.
This sounds awful, but it is in everybody’s interest that Trump’s initiative “bites the dust”.
Why?
Because a “peace deal” that hands the fortress belt that Ukraine has constructed across the Donbas it still holds will result in a fatal weakness in Ukraine’s ability to withstand another Russian invasion.
I have stated repeatedly that wars of attrition end when one of the belligerents becomes economically and logistically exhausted bore the other. This is what happened to Imperial Germany in 1918.
IF Ukraine is allowed and equipped to continue the conflict until the Russian economy collapses and Putin is replaced by a leader who ends the conflict and concludes a reasonable deal that takes effect as a ratified treaty and not an “agreement” then World War Three CAN be avoided!
What would such a peace treaty look like?
Viable terms:
#1: Each side holds onto what it holds at the time of the ceasefire/truce.
#2: Recognition by all of a United Nations agreed treaty that the agreed/revised borders are the borders between Ukraine and Russia.
#3: No reparations paid by either belligerent to the other.
#4: ALL sanctions imposed on Russia lifted.
#5: No repercussions related to acts committed during the conflict – meaning that the International Criminal Court abandon, cease and cancel it’s investigations.
#6: That Ukraine and Russia are free to negotiate whatever economic and security arrangements with other states and international organisations that they see fit.
#7: That Ukraine remains a non nuclear (weapons) power.
This would allow Ukraine to have the military forces it desired without arbitrary limits imposed by another sovereign state and allow it to join the EU and NATO (if the members of the EU and NATO agree).
Following the alterations to the BG website, most readers are based in the USA.
Many of my US readers will be of the opinion that the Ukraine war is a distant war that cannot affect them, living say in Omaha, Nebraska.
Not so!
A European War which destroys the European economies (possibly by the use of tactical nuclear weapons by Russia) will result in the drastic impoverishment of the US economy.
Americans may escape with their lives; but many will loose their homes, their jobs and their savings.