May 4, 2025
I am Paul Craig Roberts, who once served as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury in the Reagan administration and have seen many political tricks, but I have never witnessed a performance as hypocritical as this so-called "peace negotiation" in Ukraine.
You know what I'm talking about—the three-day ceasefire announced by Putin. Western media and those self-proclaimed "Russia experts" are busy analyzing his "intentions," as if there were any real hope for peace.
Come on, this isn't about negotiations for Ukraine! This is to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany—he wants to say that victory was bought with blood and sacrifice, while the United States, the United Kingdom, and France are just trying to take credit. Now they have the nerve to package themselves as "peacemakers"?
This isn't peace; it's a prelude to war.
Let me make this clear: Putin's ceasefire has nothing to do with Ukraine's so-called "peace talks."
Western media completely missed the point.
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov made it clear long ago—true peace talks must address the root causes of the conflict, not just ceasefires.
So what are the root causes? It's not Russia's "invasion"; it's the United States' years-long efforts to destabilize Russia.
The New York Times itself admitted that the U.S. goal is to create crises and weaken Russia. Since the 2014 Kiev coup, the U.S. has been orchestrating this drama: overthrowing Ukraine's legitimate government, arming Ukrainian forces to attack Donbas, and using the Minsk agreements to buy time for bigger confrontations.
Leaders from France and Germany shamelessly admitted that the Minsk agreements were a fraud to deceive Putin. What happened next? With Western support, Ukraine prepared to move against Donbas, and Putin had no choice but to send troops to protect the Russian-speaking people there—people who decided to join Russia through a referendum!
Western countries call this an "invasion" and continue to support Ukraine, sending weapons and money. This conflict has dragged on for three years, comparable to the length of time the Red Army fought in World War II. I can't help but ask Putin: why are you being so "zen"? Why not finish off Ukraine once and for all instead of letting the West take advantage?
The U.S. "Script": I've Seen Too Much
I used to be an assistant secretary at the Treasury Department. I know Washington's tricks inside out.
In this Ukraine conflict, the U.S. methods remain the same: creating chaos, weakening opponents, maintaining hegemony.
In 2014, they staged a coup in Kiev, ousted the pro-Russian Ukrainian government, and installed a puppet regime hostile to Russia. Then, they began training the Ukrainian army, encouraging them to attack Russian-speaking people in Donbas. Putin could no longer bear it and proposed security agreements, wanting to talk seriously with the U.S., the EU, and NATO. What happened? They turned their backs on him outright.
By 2022, when Ukraine was preparing to attack Donbas, Putin had no choice but to intervene. The West packaged this as "Russian aggression" and continued to arm Ukraine. This isn't peace; it's naked provocation.
Even more laughable is that while the U.S. talks about "freedom and democracy," it stirs up trouble all over the world. I noticed that Germany now resembles the "continuation of the Third Reich"—anyone daring to criticize Israel's policies toward Palestine or question the official narrative of COVID vaccines will be labeled a "political criminal." Rainer Feilhauer, a German lawyer, was imprisoned for speaking the truth. This kind of "freedom" is truly laughable.
Putin's "Naivety" Makes Me Shake My Head
I have to say, Putin might be too naive.
This conflict has dragged on for so long, and I guess he still harbors illusions about reaching a grand deal with the West, like the Yalta Conference after World War II, allowing Russia to reintegrate into the Western family. Putin, why can't you see reality? American policy hasn't changed since Wolfowitz proposed "hegemonism" in 1991.
No matter if it's Democrats or Republicans, even Trump couldn't break this iron rule: America wants global hegemony, and Russia, China, and Iran must either surrender or be crushed.
Peace? It doesn't exist.
Moreover, the West wants to use this opportunity to weaken China.
Some say that the U.S. wants Russia to become its "lapdog" to fight China's war as cannon fodder. When Russia refuses, they use Ukraine as a thorn to irritate it. I've seen too many geopolitical "chains" like this.
Whose Blood and Tears Matter?
Who suffers the most in this war?
Of course, it's ordinary Ukrainians. They are being used as pawns by the U.S. and NATO, with homes destroyed and loved ones lost. Civilians in Donbas have lived under artillery fire for ten years, yet Western media turns a blind eye. Russian speakers in Ukraine face discrimination and slaughter, and the West pretends to be deaf. These people's blood and tears have become "necessary sacrifices" in America's hegemonic chess game.
The Truth: America Wants Resources
What is the essence of this war?
Someone put it well: the West has long coveted Russia's resources. Ever since Trotsky wrote The History of the Revolution, they have lusted after Russia's oil, natural gas, and minerals. NATO's eastward expansion and the 2014 Kiev coup were all about surrounding Russia and forcing it to hand over its resources.
Ukraine is just a pawn on the chessboard; America's target has always been Russia's wealth.
Peace? Don't dream of it.
I have to pour cold water on your hopes: without Russia, China, and Iran surrendering or being militarily defeated, peace is impossible. And surrendering? That's obviously out of the question.
So the only way forward is: the conflict continues until the U.S. publicly abandons its hegemonism—when someone like Trump and Congress step up to completely reject Wolfowitz's hegemonic policies.
But is that possible?
Today's America is mired in political infighting, economic crisis, and rising populism—where does it find the time to reflect on its hegemony?
The Wall Street vampires would rather see the war drag on for another decade to sell arms and make profits.
This "peace farce" is just another performance of American hegemony.
But let me tell you, this fig leaf will eventually be torn off.
What will the world look like then? I don't know.
But I hope ordinary people can迎来 true peace—a peace without an American "script."
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1831228562802762/
Disclaimer: The article represents the views of the author alone.