'Putin Will Test President Trump, and Trump Will Need to Call Putin's Bluff''

By Matthew Dubas

As I've said in previous commentaries, Putin will test President Trump, as evidenced by the latest uptick in fighting since the inauguration and following the January 27 phone call between Washington and Moscow, and Mr. Trump will need to call Putin's bluff with action (not dialogue or "deal-making") or risk the global order of peace by appeasing Putin with Russia gaining a sphere of influence over the entire (non-NATO) former Soviet space. 

Europe is also called to action and the EU's future hangs in the balance as well (threatened by Brexit and the rise of nationalism financed and fueled by the Kremlin), if nine million (or more) refugees from Ukraine flood Europe because of Russia's aggressive actions and (due to lack of will or leadership) the West's failure to use effective deterrence measures. 

Economic measures against Russia have been effective to a point, but Putin clearly does not respect them (but would prefer to be rid of them), as evidenced by the latest military escalation in Ukraine. The measures should name Putin as well, for a start. 

Nearly 17,000 people of Adiyivka are being prepared for evacuation, as many do not have electricity, heat or water, as the temps dip near -20 C (-4 F).

There are a slew of statements by Ukrainian American and Ukrainian Canadian organizations, as well as analytical pieces, condemning the latest attacks, and, at least in the U.S., calling on President Trump not to underestimate Putin and to avoid appeasing the Russian president. 

Early reports from groups like Informnapalm.org (and others) have indicated that the Russian-backed fighters had suffered heavier losses (estimated at near 60 KIA) than the Ukrainian side (8 KIA, 25 WIA) during the fighting over January 28-29. Data on losses can only be confirmed on the Ukrainian side, as Russia (which leads the DPR/LPR fighters) tends to conceal its war dead and continues to bury them in secret (in Russia).

Matthew Dubas is editor of the nationally-distributed publication The Ukrainian Weekly. The newspaper is also distributed throughout Canada and serves as a major source of news and information for the Ukrainian community in America and abroad. He has reported on many of the country’s political and social conflicts and worked with ambassadors, politicians, policy advisers, activists and scholars on a range of issues concerning Ukraine. The views expressed by Mr. Dubas do not necessarily reflect those of the publication's management or editorial staff.