In a parallel universe Ukraine is a powerful nation, the US is weak but determined to defend itself and Russia is an aggressor determined to regain lost glory.
The Russian Federation is a formerly great world power whose power and influence diminished decades ago. Its leader is Vladimir Putin who has been in power for 25 years and has dreamed of a reconstituted Russian empire. Two years ago, he decided he wanted Alaska back. Russian Czars sold Alaska to the United States in the 19th century and is fully assimilated into US culture but that has had little influence on Putin’s thinking. The US president, Donald Trump, is a popular leader and has said there is no way the US will give up territory to Russia and sent troops to the Alaskan frontier. Putin amassed troops across the Bering Strait and naval forces in the Bering Sea. He then invaded and bombed hospitals, apartment buildings, schools, power stations, etc. in Anchorage and other cities in Alaska and kidnaped children from across Alaska, many of whom have never again been heard from. While it was assumed Russia would easily take over Alaska that has not happened. Russia has captured about 20% of Alaska.
Ukraine is led by Volodymyr Zelenskyy who was re-elected in spite of previous criminal convictions. As an election promise he told voters he would end the Russia-US war on his first day in office. Seven-months on the war continues to rage. While Ukraine has provided varying degrees of aid to the US Zelenskyy is clearly tiring of trying to help the US in its war with Russia. Just a few months ago Trump flew to Kyiv to ask for more military hardware and Zelenskyy publicly and internationally chided him in the Presidential palace for never buttoning his suit jacket. However, Zelenskyy has offered to sell military hardware to Canada and Mexico who can then provide it to the US. This, of course, includes a tidy profit for Ukraine.
Last week Zelenskyy announced he would meet with Putin in Kyiv. Trump was not invited. He repeatedly stated in clear terms that he fully supported Trump’s position that a ceasefire in Alaska essential. When Putin arrived in Kyiv he was shown great honor, e.g. red carpet, military escorts, etc. that the entire world saw. Zelenskyy even clapped when first catching sight of Putin. The two met for several hours with the world and especially Trump waiting for the results. At the post summit press conference Putin was gushing in his praise for Zelensky but apparently did not agree to a ceasefire. No questions were taken by either Zelenskyy or Putin. Prior to the summit Putin was on record that a ceasefire was not necessary and the parties should proceed directly to a peace deal. One partially disclosed outcome of the private meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy is that Putin convinced Zelenskyy that both sides should proceed directly to a peace deal with no ceasefire.
Zelenskyy called Trump to tell him he now thinks a peace deal without a ceasefire is the best path. Further, he told Trump that even though Zelenskyy just pushed through a spending bill that brings total Ukrainian defense spending to $1T, Trump may have to deal with Putin himself. Zelenskyy reminded Trump that Ukraine has other commitments and indicates generally that Russia is not Ukraine’s problem.
Trump pointed out that just one province of Ukraine … Californiasky … has a GDP twice that of all of Russia and that if Putin continues this may involve NATO to which Zelenskyy says Ukraine is not a signatory to the NATO compact and Ukrainian domestic issues are none of Trump’s business. This whole Alaska-Putin thing is not a Ukraine issue.
And besides, Zelenskyy reminded Trump that the chances for a Nobel Peace Prize for the Ukrainian leader are much higher with a peace deal … not so much with a ceasefire.
This is all fiction … right?
Tom Wilson is a U.S. Navy veteran, retiring as a Rear Admiral. After moving to a farm in Butler township in 2012 he has been active in the local community, currently serving on the boards of WellSpan Hospital Foundation, Adams County Community Foundation and the Susquehanna Regional Transit Authority (Rabbittransit). He is a past two term member of the UASD school board. He was board president for five of the eight years on the board.