Your comment on the potential vote by the brave Ukrainian service members on the front line is well taken. If one looks at the demonstration of sacrifice today, it is embodied in every Ukrainian fighter. I might propose President Zelenskyy agree to a national vote ONLY IF the aggressor Putin holds a similar vote in Russia - absolutely free of manipulation and corruption. That of course will never happen and Zelenskyy should be wary of any influence by the two dictatorial autocracies Russia and the United States.
Putin demands Dombas because his hold on power now requires it. But regime change seems to have been the overarching objective from even before the 2022 invasion (aimed directly at Kyiv), and Putin hasn't backed off this demand one iota, either.
Zelensky would be taking a huge risk if he agreed to elections. If he and his party won the vote in a fair process, Ukraine would still, at best, be in the same situation it is now. However, what are the chances that trump and Putin would accept this result? Zero, imho. Russia has not had free elections in decades, and never will while Putin lives. Trump has not stopped shouting that the 2020 election was stolen while he plots to rig this year's midterms.
Putin and trump see Ukrainian elections as their best and cheapest route to regime change. Now is not the time to take a vote.
"Experts say Ukraine needs at least six months of preparation—once the ceasefire takes hold—to organize an election that is democratic and fair."
To which the Russians, and now sadly the Americans, seem to respond: "well why do they have to be democratic and fair?" 😔
"And the third, most critical vote, will be cast by the tens of thousands of soldiers defending the front line, the people who’ve sacrificed years of life and have seen friends die to protect every inch of Ukrainian territory. When they receive the order to withdraw, I can hardly imagine them obediently laying down arms and walking away."
Absolutely spot on. But, that would be a crisis in and of itself, a challenge to civilian control of the military. Even worse would be the opposite - to lay down arms and walk away, bearing the scars and resentments of your nation betraying your sacrifice....which I think is also exactly what Putin and the Moscovites are terrified off: their soldiers returning home alive
Thank you again
Your comment on the potential vote by the brave Ukrainian service members on the front line is well taken. If one looks at the demonstration of sacrifice today, it is embodied in every Ukrainian fighter. I might propose President Zelenskyy agree to a national vote ONLY IF the aggressor Putin holds a similar vote in Russia - absolutely free of manipulation and corruption. That of course will never happen and Zelenskyy should be wary of any influence by the two dictatorial autocracies Russia and the United States.
Putin demands Dombas because his hold on power now requires it. But regime change seems to have been the overarching objective from even before the 2022 invasion (aimed directly at Kyiv), and Putin hasn't backed off this demand one iota, either.
Zelensky would be taking a huge risk if he agreed to elections. If he and his party won the vote in a fair process, Ukraine would still, at best, be in the same situation it is now. However, what are the chances that trump and Putin would accept this result? Zero, imho. Russia has not had free elections in decades, and never will while Putin lives. Trump has not stopped shouting that the 2020 election was stolen while he plots to rig this year's midterms.
Putin and trump see Ukrainian elections as their best and cheapest route to regime change. Now is not the time to take a vote.
"Experts say Ukraine needs at least six months of preparation—once the ceasefire takes hold—to organize an election that is democratic and fair."
To which the Russians, and now sadly the Americans, seem to respond: "well why do they have to be democratic and fair?" 😔
"And the third, most critical vote, will be cast by the tens of thousands of soldiers defending the front line, the people who’ve sacrificed years of life and have seen friends die to protect every inch of Ukrainian territory. When they receive the order to withdraw, I can hardly imagine them obediently laying down arms and walking away."
Absolutely spot on. But, that would be a crisis in and of itself, a challenge to civilian control of the military. Even worse would be the opposite - to lay down arms and walk away, bearing the scars and resentments of your nation betraying your sacrifice....which I think is also exactly what Putin and the Moscovites are terrified off: their soldiers returning home alive