President-elect Donald Trump promises to bring peace to Ukraine shortly after he takes office on Jan. 20. Many speculate that he will pressure President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s leader, to accept ceasefire terms heavily favorable to Russia. This is unlikely. Trump has surrounded himself with advisers and officials who understand that Russia cannot be negotiated with from a position of deference. And that Ukraine will prefer to fight on alone without American support if the alternative is to surrender its sovereignty in return for a short peace.
The key to any durable peace deal will be ingredients that balance Ukrainian interests alongside a new status quo that Russia can accept. And that means pressuring President Vladimir Putin to make his own concessions. How to do so?
It’s the economy, stupid.
Trump has an opportunity to emulate President Ronald Reagan who won…
