By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
Northern Missouri Congressman Sam Graves calls talks toward a cease fire in the Ukrainian war “very delicate negotiations.”
Graves, a Republican, says he is cautiously optimistic discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin will bear fruit.
“I can’t predict how it’s going to come out,” Graves tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. “I know the president’s pushing very hard and is making some great strides in terms of trying to get both sides to compromise, I guess you might say. Is Zelensky going to have to give up some territory, cede that to Russia? That’s a possibility. Is Russia going to back out what they have taken?”
Russia invaded Ukraine in February of 2022. What some thought would be a short conflict has turned into a slog; a grinding war that has cost countless lives as well as staggering destruction in Ukraine.
Negotiations, led by the Trump administration, are ongoing in Saudia Arabia. The U.S. has been pushing for a broad ceasefire by about the middle of next month. It appears, though, that there is a wide gap between Russia and Ukraine.
Graves says both sides must give some if the fighting is to cease. Graves is uncertain whether Russian President Vladimir Putin is willing to concede territory Russia has taken since attacking Ukraine three years ago, though Graves says the war hasn’t gone the way Russia envisioned.
“Putin went into this thing thinking that it was going to be over with in a week,” Graves says. “And he has lost a tremendous amount of resources in this process. He’s lost 23 ships in the Black Sea.”
Graves insists the United States has a vested interest in ending the war in Ukraine. The Congressman worries the conflict will broaden and is wary of the ultimate aim of Putin.
“I would rather fight him in Ukraine and let the Ukrainians prosecute the war, rather than the United States having to get into it if he moves into the Balkans,” Graves says. “If he moves into Lithuania or Estonia or Lativa or Poland, for that matter, we’re in it.”
The United States has obligations to those countries through the alliance with NATO.
You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.
