Pulitzer Winner Calls Trump’s Ukraine Deal a ‘Disgrace’

URGENT UPDATE: Thomas L. Friedman, a three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning foreign affairs expert, has sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s newly announced plan for Ukraine, labeling it a “disgrace.” In a recent opinion piece for the New York Times, Friedman argues that Trump is jeopardizing American values and alliances in a bid for a dubious peace prize.

Friedman states, “Finally, finally, President Trump just might get a peace prize that would secure his place in history. Unfortunately, though, it is not that Nobel peace prize he so covets. It is the ‘Neville Chamberlain Peace Prize’ — awarded by history to the leader of the country that most flagrantly sells out its allies and its values to an aggressive dictator.” This scathing critique comes as tensions rise over Trump’s negotiations with Vladimir Putin.

According to Friedman, Trump’s approach involves negotiating terms that could force Ukraine to capitulate to Russian demands without prior consultation with Ukrainian leaders or European allies. He highlights that these negotiations are being pushed with an alarming deadline: “Ukraine must accept the plan by Thanksgiving,” which falls on November 23, 2023. Friedman warns that if Ukraine is compelled to agree, Thanksgiving may transform into a day of gratitude for a Russian victory rather than an American holiday.

“If Ukraine is, indeed, forced to surrender to the specific terms of this ‘deal’ by then, Thanksgiving will no longer be an American holiday. It will become a Russian holiday,” Friedman declared.

Friedman goes further, asserting that rewarding Putin’s unprovoked invasion undermines the stability of the entire European Union. “Trump’s message to our allies will be clear: Don’t provoke Putin,” he wrote, emphasizing the potential long-term repercussions of this foreign policy shift.

He also introduced a new term for diplomatic discussions: “Trumped,” defining it as being “sold out by an American president, for reasons none of his citizens understand.” The implications of this rhetoric paint a dire picture for U.S. foreign relations and the future of Ukraine.

This critical commentary arrives at a pivotal moment when the international community is closely monitoring the unfolding situation in Ukraine. As discussions intensify, Friedman’s warnings serve as a stark reminder of the potential for history to remember this administration for its actions regarding Ukraine and its allies.

As developments continue, the spotlight remains on how the U.S. will navigate its relationships with both allies and adversaries. The world watches as Trump’s strategy unfolds, raising urgent questions about the future of democracy in Eastern Europe and beyond.

Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.