I turned on the news early Friday afternoon to witness exploding talking heads as Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was driven from the White House. Surprisingly, none mentioned the obvious: Zelenskyy’s childlike petulance to advance the cause of peace by:
• Formalizing the minerals agreement, already been signed by his legislature, which would have put some American skin in the Ukrainian game.
• Agreeing to an immediate in-place ceasefire to stop the carnage and destruction. No certainty would be ensured, but the battlefield situation would not be worsened.
• Expressing a willingness to bargain for a permanent peace. While no guarantees of Russia’s compliance can be ensured, the build-up of European peacekeepers during the ceasefire would be a positive step in that direction.
Zelenskyy’s desire for perfect justice and retribution will come only on judgment day and should not be a barrier to the imperfect in this imperfect world.
John B. Allison
Washington Township, Westmoreland County