Russian President Vladimir Putin is counting on the incoming US administration to do his bidding by pushing for a settlement to the Ukraine war largely on the Kremlin’s terms, even if this does not happen, as Donald Trump has promised, on his first day in office. Trump’s stated objective to end the war is noble, but Putin will accept little beyond capitulation to his demands. A change to the bleak status quo in the US-Russian relationship is, therefore, unlikely unless the United States throws Ukraine to the wolves, turns a blind eye to a Russian sphere of influence along its periphery, removes sanctions on Russian individuals and entities, and accepts a loss of leadership in Europe. For accepting those terms, the United States would receive little benefit except marginal savings to taxpayer resources. Washington would also damage its national security. The second Trump administration should accept that, under wartime conditions or with an unjust peace, salvaging the relationship with Russia is neither possible nor desirable. Instead, it should use all instruments of state power to counter Russian aggression.
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