Trump is adding farce to Ukraine’s tragedy

0It has been clear all along which side in this conflict genuinely wants peace – Shutterstock Editorial/RON SACHS/POOL/EPA/ShutterstockIn just 24 hours, Donald Trump’s eccentric policy on the war in Ukraine has taken a bizarre new twist. Having U-turned on Russian sanctions by doing a deal to import diesel, then called for Volodymyr Zelensky to be replaced as Ukrainian President, Mr Trump then announced an “energy ceasefire”.In just 24 hours, Donald Trump’s eccentric policy on the war in Ukraine has taken a bizarre new twist. Having U-turned on Russian sanctions by doing a deal to import diesel, then called for Volodymyr Zelensky to be replaced as Ukrainian President, Mr Trump then announced an “energy ceasefire”.

His idea is, apparently, that both sides will stop destroying the other’s oil and gas facilities. If that were to happen, the United States might import enough Russian diesel fuel to lower prices in time to save the Republicans from losing one or both houses of Congress in November’s midterm elections.

The main problem with this ceasefire is that it only exists in the US President’s head. Mr Zelensky responded by saying that it was news to him, though he would cooperate as long as Russia did the same. From the Kremlin, there was silence. Then, after Mr Trump’s announcement of a ceasefire, the Russians launched drone attacks on power plants in Kyiv and Kharkiv.

It has been clear all along which side in this conflict genuinely wants peace. Mr Zelensky quickly responded to Mr Trump’s outrageous call for him to go by offering to hold elections – but only if Russia agreed to a comprehensive 60-day ceasefire. Needless to say, this offer, like all the others, was ignored by Putin. These latest examples of the Russian leader’s belligerence give the lie to Mr Trump’s accusations against Mr Zelensky.

There is, as usual, method in Mr Trump’s madness. Even though his claim to have brokered an “energy ceasefire” is invented, many Americans may believe him. Now that Ukraine has been attacked again, as it has been incessantly, Kyiv will sooner or later have no choice but to retaliate. When it does, Mr Trump can blame Mr Zelensky, not only for breaking his imaginary ceasefire, but for raising the price of diesel in America. He hopes voters will overlook the real reason for high fuel prices: his own war against Iran.

Mr Trump has been trying to pin the responsibility for Putin’s war of conquest on Mr Zelensky at least since the infamous Oval Office press conference in February last year. Now he sees an opportunity to turn his bête noire into his scapegoat.

But the rest of the world can see what is going on. The antics of Potus have merely added an element of farce to a tragedy in which he appears to have taken the side, not of the victim, but of the villain.