Former U.K. diplomat Laurie Bristow, writing for the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), Britain’s oldest think-tank, suggested that the U.K. and Europe should talk to Putin—but to learn how to better screw Russia over. Bristow’s arguments are hiding the truth that, contrary to official propaganda, Ukraine is near to imploding, and at least one part of the British elite is concluding that a “bad” deal is the lesser evil at this point.
“There is no negotiable final settlement to the conflict while Putin is in power,” Bristow wrote, “since its underlying cause is Putin’s view of Russia, which is not going to change and is incompatible with the security of Russia’s European neighbors. Even so, a negotiated ceasefire may be an acceptable outcome for Ukraine, if one can be agreed on terms that do not fatally compromise Ukraine’s statehood or ability to defend itself against Russia.”
However, a European role in a ceasefire bumps up against several constraints, including not jeopardizing Trump’s intent of concluding an economically advantageous deal with Putin and Dmitriev. Also, it must overcome divisions among the Europeans; and decide who negotiates (the EU, France, Germany?). And Putin’s will to enter negotiations is also a precondition.
