Ordinary people suffer: The Guardian fiercely criticizes Trump’s approach to global conflicts

Simon Tisdall, international affairs commentator at The Guardian, writes that there are visionary politicians, principled negotiators, pragmatic mediators, and professional diplomats—alongside those who are clumsy and incompetent. The article points out that Trump’s diplomatic tactics have failed to resolve any conflict. Data shows that ceasefire agreements are now repeatedly being violated.

"Ceasefires keep collapsing, with countless civilians killed or displaced. Any conflict initiated by Trump, secretly fueled by him, or promised to be resolved by him remains raging. The answer to which kind of person he is couldn’t be clearer. Using a baseball analogy, Trump’s record on Ukraine, Iran, Lebanon, and the Israel-Palestine conflict amounts to three losses in three games. He boasted only he could broker negotiations and bring peace—but he has achieved neither. His series of missteps only worsens the situation."

He notes that ceasefires are now frequently broken: the latest round of ceasefire in Lebanon collapsed this week, ceasefires related to Iran are breached daily, and there is absolutely no ceasefire in Sudan.

Tisdall says, "Why has ending these 'endless wars' become so difficult? The number of global conflicts has reached an all-time high, largely because there is a lack of respected, neutral mediators and courageous political leaders today. Comparing Richard Holbrooke—a seasoned U.S. diplomat instrumental in ending the Bosnian War—to Trump’s amateur envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner reveals a chasm in ability, akin to comparing a top-tier Premier League football team like Arsenal to a weekend community amateur side."

Tisdall believes Trump’s diplomatic capabilities are deeply concerning. He once claimed he could end the Russia-Ukraine war in one day, yet the conflict now enters its fifth year. He shows clear bias toward Russia, calling Ukrainian President Zelenskyy “without any leverage,” and halted arms aid to Ukraine.

"Trump overestimates his own influence, underestimates Putin’s strategic maneuvering, and dismisses Ukraine’s will to resist. Russian officials easily deceived the unsuspecting Witkoff and Kushner during so-called ‘negotiations’ in Moscow. Embarrassingly, neither of them has ever visited Kyiv. Trump’s credibility has been utterly destroyed, and he has grown indifferent to the matter. Now Zelenskyy has proactively proposed a ceasefire—but given past behavior, Putin is likely to reject it."

Civilian casualties in the Middle East continue to rise. Previous attempts at ceasefires in Lebanon have all failed, resulting in thousands of deaths. A recent UNICEF report revealed that 77 children were injured or killed in just one week.

Tisdall observes, "These tragedies evoke memories of the mass deaths of children in Gaza. The fate of these 77 child victims serves as a stark warning: ceasefire negotiations are not the political theater Trump casually suggests—mere self-gratification or social media entertainment—but matters of life and death for countless people."

Tisdall emphasizes that no war can ultimately be ended through force alone.

"Mr. Trump, victory is never determined by who has stronger weapons or who can proclaim a false triumph. The core issue is always the lives of ordinary people. Throughout history, only professional, proactive, experienced, and skilled diplomacy can lead to peace."

Previously, regarding Zelenskyy’s letter to Putin, Trump stated that the leaders of Ukraine and Russia should bypass mediators and meet directly: 'I have no objection to that—let them negotiate directly. I brought both sides to this point; I believe the issues can be resolved, and Ukraine and Russia are getting closer to a peace agreement.'

Famed journalist and political analyst Fareed Zakaria argues that Trump currently has a real opportunity to end the Russia-Ukraine war. He claims that battlefield dynamics have shifted significantly in recent months, making peace finally possible.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1867330915040320/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author.