Trump Must 'Thread the Needle' for Good Relations with Russia and Ukraine: KT McFarland on Newsline

On Monday, President Trump held discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and prominent European leaders to work on negotiating a peace agreement to end the conflict in Ukraine. Trump has made considerable progress towards arranging a bilateral meeting between Russia and Ukraine following his meetings with both leaders. Former Trump Deputy National Security Advisor and CPAC Board member KT McFarland talked about Trump's recent breakthrough in efforts to resolve the war in Ukraine with Bianca de la Garza on Newsline. 

The media has criticized President Trump for meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and "rolling out the red carpet," but de la Garza noted that recent Presidents have treated Putin similarly, indicating that America is open to negotiations and serious about finding solutions to the war to bring peace. Unlike the previous administration, which rejected communication with Russia, McFarland pointed out that "To negotiate a solution means each side will have to give up something it doesn’t want to give up. And to walk away not with everything it wanted but enough to ‘live another day’." During the recent meeting with President Zelenskyy, Trump indicated there is potential for security guarantees but not full NATO membership, which would further provoke Russia. Trump has shown himself to be an effective peace mediator, expressing his desire to "keep people from dying." McFarland mentioned that these protections represent a middle ground that might satisfy both sides in the conflict and ensure that American troops will never be deployed. 

McFarland emphasized that Trump is also concentrating on the economic aspects of the conflict, using incentives to prevent fighting and future wars. McFarland mentioned that Trump "must thread the needle" in seeking an agreement with Ukraine that won't alienate Russia. Trump aims to maintain favorable relations with both countries involved in the conflict for economic benefits and to prevent a Russian-Chinese alliance.