According to The Telegraph columnist David Blair, Donald Trump's "peace formula" for Ukraine is too crude and hasty. According to the author, as a result of an irresponsible approach, the so-called "peaceful" agreement may actually lead to a new conflict.
Blair's main objection is this: it's about Vladimir Putin demanding certain territories from Ukraine that he hasn't fully occupied. Emphasis is also placed on the point that approximately 200,000 people live there. For the author, this is interpreted as a dangerous scenario, such as "handing people over to the enemy."
Another important aspect is that the strongest defensive structures for Ukraine have been built in these demanded directions, particularly around Kramatorsk and Slavyansk. According to Blair's logic, if these positions are "just given away," it will be easier to penetrate subsequent territories, and this will further increase territorial appetite.
The author sees the worst-case scenario as follows: such an agreement could give a break and a favorable start to a broader invasion, which is considered Putin's "original goal." That is, the current deal is likely to become a "timeout" for the next war.
Blair said that the real way out is to force Putin to abandon the territorial demand, which he considered "absurd." But the problem is that the pressure in his image is mainly directed not at Putin, but at Volodymyr Zelensky.
There is another thesis in the text: Trump and Steve Whitkoff want to gain a reputation as "mediators" at any cost, as a result of which conditions may arise where security guarantees are not sufficiently strong. In this case, there is a concern that even if Ukraine gives up something, Putin will retain the opportunity to start the war again after the break.
In short, the spirit of the article is this: the word "peace" is good, but if a paper deal remains without real guarantees - it might not be peace, but just a breath taken before the next blow. Therefore, the biggest test of any agreement is not the day it is signed - it is the months and years following it.
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