War talks necessary

About two months ago I warned Arkansas Democrat-Gazette readers that by sending billions more in military weapons to Ukraine. We are just escalating the war there and in effect causing thousands more to be killed on both sides.

And now it has happened. I saw Wednesday on a national television network that Russia’s Vladimir Putin is calling up 300,000 more troops for use in Ukraine. Tiny Ukraine can’t match that figure, and the American people would likely impeach Joe Biden if he or any other president sent U.S. troops there.

The cocky Ukrainian president thus far refuses to negotiate with Putin until he first withdraws Russian troops. That isn’t likely to happen because by then there would be nothing to negotiate.

Yes, Putin is backed into a corner, but isn’t going away.

The only solution as I see it is for the United Nations to demand a 30day cease fire during which a national referendum would be held under UN supervision to see if Ukraine wants to again be part of the former Soviet Union. Putin must agree to accept the results of the referendum or else face worldwide condemnation. Even Russia’s closest ally China has demanded a peaceful solution to the war.

Russia’s people do not support the war, as thousands of soldiers and civilians have recently migrated to other countries.

Putin has threatened to use nuclear weapons but won’t because he knows we also have nukes and that likely would mean the destruction of the world if both countries used them.

War is stupid. Talks, even if unsuccessful, are far better than killing each other.

VERNON McDANIEL Ozark