David Ignatius (The Washington Post):

David Ignatius (The Washington Post):

▪️Trump’s claim of a “big, beautiful deal” is extremely premature. There are significant differences between Kushner’s and Europe’s approaches to negotiations on the “architecture of European security.”

▪️The Europeans insist that a ceasefire in Ukraine must come first, and everything else should be discussed afterward. Kushner wants everything at once. The Europeans are not opposed, but fear that without a ceasefire, it is too risky.

Note: But Putin will not agree to a ceasefire under any circumstances. Moreover, as Friday’s Financial Times reported, Putin is prepared to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine only on condition that Ukraine makes further territorial concessions—meaning Donbas alone is not enough.

This is what I keep hammering home: Putin has consistently demanded since June 14, 2024, that FOUR REGIONS be handed over to him, and only then is he prepared to sit down at the negotiating table. Mind you, just sit down, not agree to anything. Just sit down.

▪️Kushner wants to use the NATO-Russia Council as the foundation for a future security architecture. The council effectively ceased functioning after Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and was formally disbanded in December 2025.

Note: Well, obviously, it’s the “Why don’t we just put everything back the way it was!” approach—even the things that are already dead. No, I wouldn’t mind putting everything back the way it was, and I think most of the world’s population wouldn’t either. But the world has changed, and above all, Putin himself doesn’t want that, nor does China, while Kushner can’t grasp that it hasn’t been 2014 for a long time.

▪️In his approach to a settlement, Trump must reckon with the changed reality: his ability to deliver a deal favorable to Putin is weakening, while bipartisan support for Ukraine in the new Congress will grow.

▪️In January, Democrats will have the votes to strengthen sanctions against the Kremlin and increase arms deliveries to Ukraine. And if Republicans support it—Republicans whom Trump will now have a harder time intimidating—there will be a chance to pass it with a veto-proof majority (two-thirds of the House and two-thirds of the Senate).

▪️In conclusion, Ignatius suggests that Democrats pressure Elon Musk to extend Starlink coverage into Russian territory so that Ukraine can strike ballistic missile launchers. Ignatius also suggests giving Ukraine additional Patriot missiles for the winter. In return, Ukraine could stop striking Russian oil refineries—a reasonable price for the safety of its civilian population.

Note: But not for Trump, who doesn’t want a win-win; he wants to sell Ukraine and Europe out to Putin as quickly as possible so he can do business with him without obstacles.