1/5 Putin is overplaying his hand—again.
Ironically, we are lucky Putin keeps making unrealistic, maximalist demands just to mock the West.
Because if he offered even a slightly compromised deal, our weak Western leaders might pressure Ukraine to accept it
Ironically, we are lucky Putin keeps making unrealistic, maximalist demands just to mock the West.
Because if he offered even a slightly compromised deal, our weak Western leaders might pressure Ukraine to accept it
2/5 Trump and many European leaders have been hoping the war would just fade away.
They are ready to appease Putin, make big compromises, and pressure Ukraine to settle.
But Putin’s arrogance keeps him from playing smart
They are ready to appease Putin, make big compromises, and pressure Ukraine to settle.
But Putin’s arrogance keeps him from playing smart
3/5 russia is strategically losing the war.
It can’t achieve its goals and won’t.
Yet even a bad deal with a hint of compromise could bait Western leaders into pushing Ukraine to accept.
But Putin won’t do it—he’d rather humiliate than negotiate
It can’t achieve its goals and won’t.
Yet even a bad deal with a hint of compromise could bait Western leaders into pushing Ukraine to accept.
But Putin won’t do it—he’d rather humiliate than negotiate
4/5 This shows how much Putin’s legacy depends on this war.
And why I’ve said before:
Even a bad, unfair deal would be a Ukrainian victory and a russian defeat—because anything short of Ukraine becoming a russian satellite is a loss for Putin
And why I’ve said before:
Even a bad, unfair deal would be a Ukrainian victory and a russian defeat—because anything short of Ukraine becoming a russian satellite is a loss for Putin
5/5 There are levels to victory. It’s good Ukraine isn’t being pressured into a deal it doesn’t want. Ukraine decides what’s acceptable.
Our job in the West is to support Ukraine and increase pressure on russia.
We are lucky Putin is arrogant enough to keep overplaying his hand
Our job in the West is to support Ukraine and increase pressure on russia.
We are lucky Putin is arrogant enough to keep overplaying his hand
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
