Everyday Hero: Former Ukraine ambassador shares ideas on Russia-Ukraine negotiations

Yahoo

01-03-2025

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – Three years ago, Russia invaded Ukraine. People expected the conflict to last weeks at the time, but weeks turned into months and then years.
Hundreds of thousands of lives have been lost, and the end of the war could be in sight, but one Lowcountry political expert has questions about how peace is being negotiated.
'They fought very strong, and I think surprised a lot of us,' said Jon Gunderson, a former US Ambassador to Ukraine.
The Ukrainian flag still flies outside the house of Jon Gunderson, who promised it would stay that way until the Russia-Ukraine war was over.
Gunderson says we can make no mistake about it. We have to remember how it all started three years ago.
'Russia invaded Ukraine against all international law,' Gunderson explained. 'We have had a million-count casualty, 300,000 deaths. Russia has destroyed the Ukrainian economy, has kidnapped kids… and have destroyed civil structure, as part of their policy. So, that's the backdrop we have to think about when we negotiate peace today.'
Gundersen knows Ukraine and Russia well. He is a retired senior foreign service officer who opened the American embassy in Ukraine in 1991.
An ambassador under President Bill Clinton says it is time to end this bloody war but says President Trump cutting a deal and negotiating with Russian President Vladimir Putin is not the way to go.
'I think Trump should be peace through strength as he talks about, so I'm surprised, embarrassed that we are voting with Russia. We are voting with Iran, North Korea, against our allies and Ukraine,' Gunderson said. 'To me that's earth shocking. It really hurts me, and if we want to have good negotiations, a fair peace, we have to do it from strength.'
As the US and Ukraine work on a possible economic agreement, Gunderson says we must continue to support Ukraine militarily.
Advances on the battlefield may be going Russia's way, but back home, things are different, and it could help Ukraine's hand in future negotiations with Moscow.
'Their economy finally is falling apart. 10% inflation, 20% interest rate, one million Russians, almost one million have left, and these are the best and the brightest. The IT people, so in the long run, the strength is not with Russia,' Gunderson explained.
So, while there is a growing divide between Ukraine and our European allies over President Trump's direct negotiations with Russia, all agree there is an urgent need to end this war.
Instead of playing into Putin's hands and giving in to his demands, Gunderson says
You have to persuade Trump that it is in his best interest to be tougher on Putin.
'He doesn't want to be seen like Biden was with Kabul or Nixon was in Vietnam,' Gunderson said.
Until the conflict ends, Gunderson's flag still flies.
President Trump said Thursday a peace deal to end the war will happen fairly quickly, or it won't be at all.
He met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday. Gunderson said it would be a tragedy if Trump sells out Ukraine.
If you have an Everyday Hero, email [e-mail] or submit it here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.