Summary
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s proposal for a rapid peace deal with Russia, arguing it would lead to a “loss” for Ukraine.
Trump, who has repeatedly claimed he could resolve the war in 24 hours, aims for a quick end, but Zelenskyy insists that a rushed settlement would compromise Ukraine’s independence.
Speaking in Budapest, Zelenskyy also rejected Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s call for a cease-fire, citing failed attempts in 2014.
Additionally, he warned of North Korean troop involvement in Ukraine if Western allies don’t increase political pressure on Pyongyang.
The Baltics are in a much stronger position than Ukraine. They are in Nato already, and are geographically important as a buffer to the only Nato members who actually take Russia as a serious threat (Norway, Sweden, Finland and Poland.) Tactically, air and sea defence of the Baltics is externally feasible, and the Baltics nations have focused on building land defense over the recent years. If you combine this with the obvious Russian war fatigue, and lack of resources, it is clear the Russia doesn’t have the capacity to invade the Baltics over the next two years at least, even if the Belarusians participated.
All of this becomes even harder if the Russians are gifted Ukraine and have to occupy it militarily.