Trump To Putin: Let’s Make A Big Beautiful Deal!
[guest post by Dana]
When you refuse to admit that Vladimir Putin is a war criminal, what the hell business do you have being the U.S. Secretary of State? Absolutely no business whatsoever. And we know this because kowtowing to Putin and handling him with kid gloves as opposed to a tough resolve, has only empowered the thug:
Secretary of State Marco Rubio got a grilling from Rep. Bill Keating (D-MA) during a meeting of the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday.
Matters got heated when Keating asked Rubio if Russian President Vladimir Putin is a war criminal, which in 2017 was exactly what then-Senator Rubio asked of Rex Tillerson, whom President Donald Trump nominated to be Secretary of State.
“The person we’re negotiating with, Vladimir Putin, is he a war criminal?” Keating asked Rubio, referring to the Trump administration’s ostensible attempt to broker an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
“Well, I think you can look at instances that have happened there and certainly characterize them as war crimes, but our intent is to end the war,” the secretary replied.
Another effort was made by Sen. Keating to pin down Rubio:
KEATING: Is he a war criminal?
RUBIO: We can’t end the war without talking to Mr. Putin.
KEATING: No, this is pretty simple. Is he a war criminal? This man we’re negotiating with, Vladimir Putin. Is he a war criminal? That’s not–
RUBIO: I’m trying to answer your question by telling you that we’re trying to end the war here.
[CROSSTALK]
KEATING: You are equivocating, Sir. Just answer the question!
RUBIO: I’m answering your question, and the answer is that war crimes have been committed, no doubt. And who is responsible for that? There will be a time and place for that accountability. But right now, the job is to end the war.
KEATING: So you won’t answer the question. Reclaiming my time, Sir. Let me go on, because I don’t understand this, because you’re sitting in front of us now as Secretary of State. It wasn’t long ago that you were sitting as a senator with Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson at the time in the exact same circumstances, only reversed, and you questioned him about Putin directing attacks against schools, markets, hospitals, playgrounds. And on top of this, in this instance, he’s abducted 20,000 children, a clear war crime. So you were very clear then, Vladimir Putin was a war criminal. Now, you’re unmaking him a war criminal, and you won’t answer the question about the exact same circumstances.
RUBIO: You’re putting words in my mouth.
KEATING: I’m reclaiming my time, Sir.
RUNIO: You’re putting words in my mouth.
KEATING: And you know what you said to Secretary Tillerson at the end of his answer when he equivocated just as you are right now?
RUBIO: I’ve not equivocated.
KEATING: You said–
RUBIO: You just don’t let me answer…
You can read the rest at the link.
It’s remarkable how Rubio can flip-flop without batting an eye. He sold his soul for the title he now holds. Certainly Rubio’s equivocation has Putin smiling, yet again. Especially given Trump is apparently washing his hands of the matter:
After a phone call on Monday between Mr. Trump and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, that appears to be exactly what the American president is doing. The deeper question now is whether he is also abandoning America’s three-year-long project to support Ukraine, a nascent democracy that he has frequently blamed for being illegally invaded.
Mr. Trump told President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine and other European leaders after his call with Mr. Putin that Russia and Ukraine would have to find a solution to the war themselves, just days after saying that only he and Mr. Putin had the power to broker a deal. And he backed away from his own threats to join a European pressure campaign that would include new sanctions on Russia, according to six officials who were familiar with the discussion. They spoke on condition of anonymity to describe a private conversation.
Their account sheds light on Mr. Trump’s decision to throw up his hands when it comes to a peace process that he had previously promised to resolve in just 24 hours. And, unless he again reverses course, Monday’s developments left Mr. Putin with exactly what he wanted: not only an end to American pressure, but the creation of a deep fissure inside the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, between the Americans and their traditional European allies, who say they are going ahead with sanctions anyway.
So why would Trump want to wash his hands of the matter after repeatedly boasting that he would end the war on Day 1 of his term? Day 129 and he’s ready to walk away? I bet you can guess why would he do this:
. . .The official, who asked for anonymity to discuss the president’s private calls, said additional sanctions against Russia would hinder business opportunities and the president wants to maximize economic opportunities for Americans.
Interestingly, Trump doesn’t mention democracy, freedom, war criminals, 20,000 kidnapped Ukrainian children, or continued support with Europe of a sovereign nation invaded by a murderous regime seeking to subsume Ukraine.
Today Trump expanded on his reasons for walking away from negotiations:
“It’s not our people, it’s not our soldiers … it’s Ukraine and it’s Russia.”
Of course, given that Trump has victim-blamed for so long, it makes sense that he would want to wash his hands of the negotiations. And because he has continually blamed Ukraine for starting the war, he would rather focus on Big Beautiful Deals deals with a war criminal. Question: How long before we read about the Trump Organization breaking ground for a new project in Moscow?
War criminal dictators should be offended at every opportunity. They should also be terrified, in constant fear of consequences for their crimes, driven like rats before the moral, economic, and military might of the free world. Instead we have Rubio defending Putin for Trump.
— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) May 21, 2025
—Dana
Hello.
Dana (c95917) — 5/21/2025 @ 3:35 pmRex Tillerson showed Rubio how it’s done eight years ago.
Paul Montagu (109343) — 5/21/2025 @ 4:45 pmEven though Rubio has loyally sucked Trump’s ass for years, Trump still has not entrusted him with actual negotiations with any nations on any deals.
FIFY
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/21/2025 @ 5:10 pmTillerson. I remember I did the math at the time.
He was making $85,000 a day, every day of the year, as CEO of ExxonMobil. I wondered why he would go from that to Trump’s Secretary of State.
I think he soon wondered the same thing himself.
nk (6c45b4) — 5/21/2025 @ 5:43 pmMicro Marco’s stature has shrunk to the sub-atomic level.
I’m ashamed that I donated to his presidential campaign.
Dave (2ce7be) — 5/21/2025 @ 5:56 pmHe is a war criminal, so what’s next?
Joe (692d80) — 5/21/2025 @ 6:11 pmGo to war with Russia?
All the choices are difficult or useless.
OK, he’s a war criminal. Now what? Sip your slurpee I guess.
lloyd (0ae0cf) — 5/21/2025 @ 6:14 pmHe’s a war-criminal running a country with an economy smaller than Canada’s or Brazil’s.
We should proceed cautiously, but with no doubt that we will make it as expensive as necessary to get him out of Ukraine.
Increased military aid for the Ukraine, and a no-fly zone within the country’s internationally recognized borders would be a good first step.
Dave (2ce7be) — 5/21/2025 @ 6:20 pmThe Trump administration has no governing theory, morals, ethics, or guidelines. It is entirely short-term-benefit transactional in nature. It helps to remember that, then you’re less shocked by whatever they do.
Nic (120c94) — 5/21/2025 @ 6:22 pmHow do you end wars?
Please be specific.
@Dana, happy to here your thoughts.
whembly (3bbdab) — 5/21/2025 @ 6:28 pmDuh, by surrendering obviously. Look at your leader, he’s just told you, why don’t you listen?
Colonel Klink (ret) (9dbb75) — 5/21/2025 @ 6:41 pmA first step. Interesting. When that doesn’t work, what are the next steps?
lloyd (0ae0cf) — 5/21/2025 @ 6:49 pmHow do you end wars?
Please be specific.
Watchoo axing us fo? Ask Trump. He said would end before he was even sworn in. While he was still President-Elect, he said.
nk (648d16) — 5/21/2025 @ 6:58 pm*He said would end it before he was even sworn in.*
nk (648d16) — 5/21/2025 @ 6:59 pmThe shorter Putin-Trump phone call two days ago…
Putin: “Donnie, I’m not going to end war.”
Trump: “Okay, Vlad, whatever you say. Don’t forget the Trump Tower Moscow deal.”
Putin: “Da, sure.”
Trump has been a passive little pizda with Putin from Day One, not getting a single concession from the Russian terrorist leader, going as far as lying to the American people that “Putin wants peace”.
Paul Montagu (109343) — 5/21/2025 @ 7:00 pmThere are folks Kasparov’s age putting their lives on the line in Ukraine. Why doesn’t he join them? He’d rather fight against the duly elected president of the country that guarantees his safety.
lloyd (4e2c45) — 5/21/2025 @ 7:18 pmThat’s how you know you’ve lost the argument, when you got nuthin’ to say but to resort to nonsense like “why doesn’t he join them”.
Paul Montagu (109343) — 5/21/2025 @ 7:22 pmYou’re right, Paul. What chance does an argument like that have up against your virtue signaling?
lloyd (4e2c45) — 5/21/2025 @ 7:24 pmWhat I said about Ramaphosa vis a vis Trump goes double for Putin. Putin has no respect for Trump, and Trump has nothing that Putin needs.
nk (648d16) — 5/21/2025 @ 7:28 pmCongressman jerry connolly dead today of cancer. One less democrat vote.
asset (5247f4) — 5/21/2025 @ 8:34 pmHow do you end wars?
You win them. Biden followed the Vietnam strategy of incremental escalation until the public got tired of it.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 5/21/2025 @ 8:49 pm@21 Dana I have said this before to paraphrase Hanna Arendt If putin doesn’t win he loses and if Ukraine doesn’t lose it wins. See revolutionary war, vietnam war afganistan war twice and many others. Nato will be like the french in our revolutionary war.
asset (5247f4) — 5/21/2025 @ 8:50 pmWhat, no whatabouting?
Paul Montagu (109343) — 5/21/2025 @ 10:41 pmTwo Israelis shot and killed in D.C. tonight.
asset (5247f4) — 5/21/2025 @ 11:07 pmA no fly zone would be a deceleration of war. Anybody really think that’s a popular view with the voters?
Joe (584b3d) — 5/22/2025 @ 12:13 amIt could make a Taiwanese invasion more likely since our AF would be busy in Europe.
No-fly zones have been enforced in a number of places without leading to declared war or its equivalent.
Iraq and Bosnia in the 1990’s. Libya in the 2000’s.
The Europeans could shoulder much of the effort, as they did in Libya. The Russian air force would be badly outnumbered, and also out-classed.
In my opinion, Ukraine is more important for us to defend than Taiwan, in part because defending Taiwan is a far less certain and potentially very costly undertaking.
Unless Putin starts lobbing nukes at cities, there’s really nothing Russia can do to hurt NATO.
Dave (2ce7be) — 5/22/2025 @ 5:11 amAnd: the Air Force would be involved in Europe, while the Navy would be involved in Taiwan.
SamG (4e6c22) — 5/22/2025 @ 5:34 amI was pretty firm against a no-fly zone since the start of Putin’s Big Escalation, but I’m softening, mainly because of the constant stream of atrocities Putin has committed. Closing the skies and doubling down on military aid by both the US and Europe would put an end to Putin’s attempts at conquest, and hopefully put an end to Putin.
Paul Montagu (109343) — 5/22/2025 @ 5:35 amI have not seen any evidence that Europe has the capability to support a short term no-fly zone.
Joe (584b3d) — 5/22/2025 @ 7:06 amKevin, Joe & Whembly, There are few ways to “win” the war in Ukraine for the US.
Best case scenario is Russians aggression is stopped without a chaotic end to the current Russian government.
Here’s a list of bad outcomes.
-Putin wins and continues his aggression towards Europe, this prompts an increase in nuclear proliferation.
-Putin wins and so crippled he’s unable to project force for a while.
-Putin ‘wins’ but UKE turns into a decade long guerrilla war, similar to Chechnya but closer to Western Europe.
-UKE “Wins”, Putin is dethroned and the aftermath is a chaotic security nightmare.
-UKE wins, Putin retreats and is unable to project force for a while.
Lots of ways this can be bad for us both from our action and our inaction.
I think the best solutions come from supporting UKE with equipment but not US troops.
Time (7a50d4) — 5/22/2025 @ 8:05 amThe war would end today if Putin would stop bombing Ukraine, remove his forces from Ukraine, and abandon his goal of ending the existence of Ukraine as a nation.
Any plan that doesn’t start with a recognition of Putin’s malignant purpose is either naive or morally obtuse, or both. Granting the Russians a reward for their unprovoked aggression while hindering the Ukrainians’ ability to defend themselves in the future will only legitimize Russian belligerence and encourage more of the same.
Ukrainians and other neighbors of Russia understand that imperialistic ambitions are deeply embedded in the Russian psyche. Kremlin mouthpieces don’t really hide it either. “Russia is expanding, like it or not!” “Russia’s borders end nowhere!” Etc.
Yet people in MAGA-land have cast the Russians as a party with legitimate grievances against Ukraine and have claimed that Russia is only “responding to threats” from Ukraine and NATO – and ultimately from America. Trump portrays Putin as an admirable person who has suffered great injustice together with him.
Trump claimed he knew how to end the war quickly and easily. If he has any ideas for doing so, it is simply to abandon Ukraine to Russia – though Ukrainians won’t give up, and Europeans understand the peril of yielding to Russian aggression.
I don’t know how to end the war, but I do know that Trump-world starts from premises that are deeply flawed.
Radegunda (1b5627) — 5/22/2025 @ 9:36 amI am not a historian, not have i researched the history of Russia & Ukraine (or anywhere else in Europe).
But i know that they have a complex and long history. This is one of those foreign entanglements that President Washington warned us about.
It would be wonderful if they could get along. But it is not our circus, not our monkeys. My southern border and the deficit scare me more.
Joe (584b3d) — 5/22/2025 @ 10:53 amIts not Trump’s (nor Biden’s) war to end.
@32
Sure.
I recognize that.
Now what?
Radegunda, you’ll be surprised, then, that the above sentiment is shared broadly by Trump voters.
I share it.
However, I’ve yet seen a “plan” to end this war….
Only plans I’ve seen, simply is to give somewhat whatever UKE wants to “bloody” Putin’s nose.
But that plan doesn’t “end the war”. It perpetuates it. It smacks of visions of Afghanistan/Iraq/Vietnam, and there’s ZERO appetite to see another one of those.
Ending this war is complicated simply because it’s takes ALL sides to agree.
Both UKE and RUSSIA has to agree.
Not UKE, US, EU, me, Radegunda agree on something without RUSSIA at the table.
Whether we like it, or not, Putin/RUSSIA also gets a say here.
What can be done to convince Putin/RUSSIA to end this?
Frankly, if you’re not willing to go into an all-out war (ie, WW3) against RUSSIA for totally regime annihilation, then you cannot cut Putin/RUSSIA out of any deals to end this war.
So, to repeat myself, if you’re looking to end the way, *HOW* will you convince Putin/RUSSIA to end it?
whembly (26603f) — 5/22/2025 @ 11:16 amwhembly (26603f) — 5/22/2025 @ 11:16 am
Get good spies, or analysts, and find out or figure out what’s worrying him, and scare him.’
And if you can’t, Don’t talk to him because that will most likely help him relieve his uncertainties.
Sammy Finkelman (f20799) — 5/22/2025 @ 11:22 amWhat finally convinced Russia to end its 21-year long war with Sweden?
It actually was two short wars, and what finally ended it must have been Napoleon.
Wars stopped then because governments ran out of money to pay soldiers etc., or they had other concerns.
Sammy Finkelman (f20799) — 5/22/2025 @ 11:28 amThat is the problem, they don’t have one.
Joe (584b3d) — 5/22/2025 @ 11:45 amWe don’t have one.
Give them what they want?
Rip Murdock (86e39a) — 5/22/2025 @ 11:59 am@38
Is that the only way?
Specifically seeking details here.
Dave was the only one who really proffered a plan…namely, continuation of status quo + enforcing no-fly zones.
whembly (26603f) — 5/22/2025 @ 12:07 pmYes, if want to end the war quickly. I would add to a no-fly zone a naval blockade of Russian ports.
Rip Murdock (86e39a) — 5/22/2025 @ 12:22 pm@39, I’d continue to arm UKE in order to bleed Russia until they give up as this not being worth it and try to make a peace deal that lets them keep some conquered lands. I’d want UKE to leave that peace deal with enough military capability that another invasion by Russia would clearl be a bad idea.
Russia gets to keep some land but recognizes UKE’s current borders. Their word is worthless but it’s a nice touch
UKE gets self determination and a strong enough military to deter Russian aggression. Note: UKE has to buy all its weapons from the US.
The US/EU get another democracy in the world, a trading partner, minerals, and a customer for a defense equipment.
Time (cf931f) — 5/22/2025 @ 12:22 pmPut another way, UKE is the Afghanistan/Vietnam in this scenario. We need to arm them until Russia is tired of not winning. UKE can’t make Russia lose outright any more then Iraq was able to stop the US. But they can maybe make them get tired of not winning.
Time (cf931f) — 5/22/2025 @ 12:25 pmI don’t think a declaration of war on Russia is a good idea.
Time (cf931f) — 5/22/2025 @ 12:25 pmNo-fly zones wouldn’t be a “declaration of war”, but would be an act of war, which is my main reason for hesitating on such a thing. At this point of the war, I don’t believe it makes much of a difference. What’s he going to do, make Nuclear Threat #28?
The way I see it, Putin has made clear that he has no interest in peace, as the WSJ piece I mentioned above attests. The best way to achieve peace, IMO, is to push Putin backward, which is achieved by another battery of sanctions and penalties, and by sending Ukraine the weapons they’re requesting (for the first time ever) to push him back.
It’ll eventually seep into the Russian polity and consciousness that, after three plus years, they’re losing ground, they’re losing the war by Putin’s quagmire and failure, they’re losing their economy because of Putin’s bad decisions, and they’re losing their future with hundreds of thousands of dead Russian men, dead from a pointless war that Putin should never have started.
When enough of the Russian people see Putin as a loser (despite all the rah-rah propaganda otherwise), there could be an impetus for some higher-up or other to put a bullet through Vlad’s head and put their sheethole country on a different course.
Paul Montagu (109343) — 5/22/2025 @ 12:56 pmAll of which is unacceptable to Putin.
Rip Murdock (86e39a) — 5/22/2025 @ 1:20 pmThat could take years.
Rip Murdock (86e39a) — 5/22/2025 @ 1:22 pmI doubt it, not with all the Russians on Telegram.
Paul Montagu (109343) — 5/22/2025 @ 1:41 pmI was being glib. But i think we agree that having the Air Force do that would result in a war with Russia.
Time (cf931f) — 5/22/2025 @ 1:59 pm@45, It is today. We need to help UKE kill enough Russians to change his mind.
Time (cf931f) — 5/22/2025 @ 2:00 pmIf Putin can tolerate Russian casualties to the tune of 400,000 per year and continue to replenish his army, more Russian casualties won’t have an impact.
The only way to convince Putin to change course is to threaten destruction of major civilian population centers. Pinprick drone attacks aren’t convincing.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/22/2025 @ 2:26 pmI think this is wrong.
As the aggressor, Putin needs to win.
Ukraine just needs to not lose.
Dave (f8355e) — 5/22/2025 @ 2:45 pmPutin is winning, bit by bit; and Ukraine is losing by the same amount.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/22/2025 @ 4:24 pmThanks to Putin’s Fifth Column in this country.
If we decided to prevent Ukraine from losing, they couldn’t lose.
Dave (5c7e1a) — 5/22/2025 @ 5:21 pmDave, I’d say that Putin’s propaganda is working. He’s got a first-rate disinformation operation that obscures his third-rate economy, hollowed out military and backward culture.
Going by the War Mapper, he occupies 18.3% of Ukraine, gaining only 0.7% since Nov-2022, after the Ukrainians reclaimed Kherson.
That isn’t “winning”, it’s a quagmire, and it’s costing Putin 1,000 mobiks a day to try to gain ground. I’ve said before that western weapons can beat his meat waves and North Korean cannon fodder, if only an American president is brave enough to make it happen, or if the Europeans can step up and quickly.
Paul Montagu (dfc26f) — 5/22/2025 @ 6:06 pm