Leon Panetta: To Trump’s Credit, He’s Been Able to Negotiate the Possibility of a Clean Ceasefire in Russia-Ukraine War

EXCERPT:

PANETTA: “Look, this is a test for the president. This is a test for the president. Whether he is going to stand strong for doing the right thing or whether he caves in to Putin, that’s going to be the issue. And I hope he stands strong. He’s been able to negotiate a possibility of a clean ceasefire. That’s to his credit. He can’t now suddenly engage in a series of negotiations on a bunch of other issues that ultimately have to be left to the parties. If you start that process now, you’re going to undermine your ability to get a ceasefire now. That’s going to be a — what the president has to make clear to Putin is that he has a chance to accept a ceasefire now that will stop the killing. Let’s do that and then let’s negotiate on the longer-term issues.”