WSJ: U.S. Congress May Drive The Kremlin "into A Stalemate"

For the first time in many months, there was real hope.

U.S. President Donald Trump's meeting with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin in Alaska could be the first significant breakthrough for peace since Russia launched its brutal and unjustified military invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago, former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence opined in a published opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal.

Pence believes that for the first time in many months there is real hope that the bloodshed in Ukraine may end and its people can start rebuilding their country.

The former U.S. politician, however, believes that the Russian dictator understands only force and diplomacy is not enough. In his opinion, the peace process should be backed up by real leverage, which both the White House chief and the US Congress can provide.

It is pointed out that Russia is already questioning whether the meeting between Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky will even take place. Also, Russia denies information that it has agreed to accept Western security guarantees for Ukraine.

Pence believes that Moscow is delaying the talks to continue its aggression against Ukraine, because the aggressor country continues to bomb Ukrainian cities after the summit in Alaska. Therefore, the American politician added, the United States should not allow Putin to dictate the pace or terms of diplomacy.

The former US vice president believes that Congress could drive the Russian president "to a deadlock" if it immediately adopted new sanctions against her and put the relevant document on Trump's desk.

Pence suggested that having sanctions ready to be signed would strengthen Trump's position at the negotiating table. Putin would then get a clear message that if he procrastinates, cheats or backs down, then the Russian economy will pay a heavy price for those actions.

The publication said that Senator Lindsey Graham has introduced a bipartisan sanctions package that would impose high duties on countries that support the war Russia is waging by buying oil, gas and other exports.

The American politician noted that the "carrot and stick" method is a proven strategy in American foreign policy. He explained that the "carrot" for Russia in this case is the opportunity to get out of isolation, while the "stick" is the threat of tough new economic sanctions.

He believes that together these actions can give a great chance that a fair and lasting peace deal will be concluded in Ukraine.

Pence recalled how US President Donald Trump has already used this approach in 2019. Trump ordered U.S. troops to withdraw from Syria's northern border, but Turkey launched a military operation across the border against Kurdish forces that were helping America defeat ISIS. Trump has said he is ready to impose tough sanctions against Turkey and that country's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has agreed to a cease-fire.

Hence, he said, the strategy with sanctions against Russia could work in the case of Ukraine. Pence added that Ukraine is very close to peace today thanks to the persistence of the US president.

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