11/9/23 Ted Snider: Ukraine Would Have Fared Better Without Washington
Nov 10, 2023
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Ted Snider discusses the war in Ukraine, revealing that Ukraine and Russia were initially willing to negotiate peace, but the US pushed Ukraine into fighting. He criticizes US officials for putting Ukraine in a losing position and emphasizes the urgent need for negotiations to avoid further losses.
The United States rejected negotiations and encouraged Ukraine to continue fighting, leading to a weaker negotiating position and the loss of many lives.
Russia's defensive approach and Ukraine's failed counter-offensive have resulted in heavy casualties, a weakened military, and a bleak future for Ukraine.
Deep dives
Pressure on Ukraine to Negotiate and Give Up Territory and NATO Aspirations
There is growing pressure on Ukraine, as evidenced by an NBC article, to recognize that they will not achieve their policy goals on the battlefield and should turn to the negotiating table. This marks a shift in language as American and European officials are now suggesting that Ukraine may have to give up territory and its NATO aspirations as part of a negotiated settlement. This represents a significant change in approach, as Ukraine had previously been willing to negotiate before the war escalated into a larger conflict. The tragedy lies in the fact that the war could have ended early with a tentative agreement between Ukraine and Russia, but the United States rejected this, leading to the loss of many lives and a weaker negotiating position for Ukraine.
Ukraine's Losses and Vulnerabilities on the Battlefield
The Ukrainian counter-offensive has not only failed, but it has also left Ukraine in a significantly worse position on the battlefield. Russia shifted its strategy to a defensive approach, allowing Ukrainian troops to flood into their defensive lines and suffer heavy losses. This war of attrition has resulted in a massive loss of life for Ukraine and a weakening of their military capabilities. Russian forces have effectively stalled the Ukrainian advances and have been able to shoot down planes and destroy military equipment at alarming rates. Ukraine is now facing a situation where they are running out of weapons and men, while Russia continues to strengthen its position. The future looks bleak for Ukraine, and US and European officials are urging them to seek a way to end the conflict to prevent further losses.
US Manipulation and Moral Depravity in the Ukraine Conflict
The United States knowingly manipulated Ukraine into a war that it could not win, sacrificing thousands of Ukrainian lives for their own foreign policy goals. The US pressed Ukraine to continue fighting even though they knew the counter-offensive would fail, banking on Ukraine's willingness to endure massive losses. This can only be described as moral depravity. Ukraine had already achieved its policy goals before the US intervened, and the US used Ukraine as a tool to weaken Russia, disregarding the loss of Ukrainian lives. The tragedy lies in the fact that Ukraine could have settled the conflict earlier and with better terms, but the US rejected negotiations and encouraged continued fighting. Now, Ukraine is in a worse position with a deteriorating economy, dwindling resources, and a stronger Russia. The responsibility for this horrific war lies squarely on the United States.
Ted Snider joined Scott on Antiwar Radio this week to discuss the war in Ukraine. Snider explains that we now know that early on, both Ukraine and Russia were willing to stop the fighting and work things out peacefully. But the U.S. put a stop to the talks and urged Ukraine to fight. Now Ukraine has suffered heavy casualties, blown through its defensive resources and lost territory its own generals say they’ll never win back. Snider berates U.S. officials for putting Ukraine in this position and argues that negotiations must start now before Ukraine needlessly loses even more.
Discussed on the show:
“Three Major Events in Russia the World Didn’t Notice” (Antiwar.com)
“U.S., European officials broach topic of peace negotiations with Ukraine, sources say” (NBC News)
Ted Snider has a graduate degree in philosophy and writes on analyzing patterns in U.S. foreign policy and history. He is a regular writer for Truthout, MondoWeiss and antiwar.com. To support Ted’s work, you can make a PayPal contribution at tedsnider14@gmail.com.
