Prominent foreign affairs expert and three-time Pulitzer Prize winner, Thomas L. Friedman, has sharply criticized Donald Trump‘s approach to Ukraine, labeling it a “disgrace.” In his latest column for the New York Times, Friedman condemned the president’s attempts to secure a Nobel Peace Prize, suggesting that Trump’s actions could lead to a historical legacy akin to that of Neville Chamberlain.
Friedman argued that Trump’s negotiations effectively betray Ukraine and undermine Western values. He remarked, “Finally, finally, President Trump just might get a peace prize that would secure his place in history. Unfortunately, though, it is not that Nobel peace prize he so covets. It is the ‘Neville Chamberlain Peace Prize’ — awarded by history to the leader of the country that most flagrantly sells out its allies and its values to an aggressive dictator.”
The columnist further criticized key figures involved in the negotiations, including Steve Witkoff, Marco Rubio, and Dan Driscoll, for negotiating terms that could lead to Ukraine’s surrender to Vladimir Putin without prior consultation with Ukrainian officials or European allies. Friedman stated that these dealings set a dangerous precedent, asserting, “If Ukraine is, indeed, forced to surrender to the specific terms of this ‘deal’ by then, Thanksgiving will no longer be an American holiday. It will become a Russian holiday.”
Friedman articulated his concern about the implications of the proposed deal, which he believes could redefine international relations in Europe. He warned that by appeasing Putin, the United States risks placing the entire European Union under Russian influence. “Trump’s message to our allies will be clear: Don’t provoke Putin, because as long as I am commander in chief, the United States will pay no price and we will bear no burden in the defense of your freedom,” he wrote.
The column ends on a somber note, with Friedman predicting that history will remember those responsible for what he terms a betrayal. He concluded, “We will need to add a new verb to the diplomatic lexicon: ‘Trumped’ — to be sold out by an American president, for reasons none of his citizens understand (but surely there are reasons). And history will never forget the men who did it — Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff, Marco Rubio, Dan Driscoll — for their shame will be everlasting.”
This critique raises significant questions about the future of U.S. foreign policy and its impact on global alliances, particularly in the context of ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
