A Treaty with the Devil: Why Negotiating with Russia Will Doom the West

 

Negotiating with Moscow is akin to rewarding tyranny — a surefire way to let dictators everywhere know that violence pays. Simply put, negotiating with Moscow is a fool's errand — it gives Putin the green light to invade more, oppress more, and win more. In plain terms, any treaty with Putin is as good as the paper it's written on: meaningless, hollow, and destined for betrayal.

Striking a deal with the devil always sounds enticing, but it's about as wise as signing up for a tango with a tiger and hoping not to get bitten. The current political climate, which entertains the idea of negotiating with Vladimir Putin to de-escalate the conflict in Ukraine, is walking a perilous tightrope. It's worth questioning if anyone has taken a moment to recall history — and more importantly, the terrifying results of appeasing dictators. Because when did Russia, under any regime, ever honor its promises? Negotiating with Russia would be akin to cutting a deal with Satan himself, one where the ink barely dries before the betrayal sets in.

Let’s not forget that Russia's track record for keeping agreements is as consistent as a broken clock. Take a trip back to the 1940s. During World War II, the United States and Britain did Stalin a favor by providing air cover and weapons to help push back Hitler’s advance. What did the Allies get in return? Stalin gobbled up Eastern Europe, including East Germany, and erected the Iron Curtain. So much for agreements. The West gave Stalin aid, and he gave them a slab of Eastern Germany and decades of Cold War tension. What makes anyone think Putin, the modern-day reincarnation of such ambitions, would behave differently?

Putin is not just another political leader; he's an autocrat with a vision — a vision to restore what he perceives as Russia’s rightful empire. Engaging him in negotiation only signals weakness. It tells him, and every other would-be dictator watching closely, that you can invade a country, butcher civilians, and destroy lives — and, if you hold out long enough, the international community will come to the table to reward your aggression with talks. The message? Empire-building is back on the menu. If the West shows even the slightest inclination toward negotiation, other despots will rub their hands in glee, ready to try their own hand at redrawing borders.

Think about it: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was based on the flimsy pretext of “denazification” and protecting Russian-speaking Ukrainians. If the Kremlin had any real diplomatic ambitions, they would have chosen the negotiation table before sending tanks into Kyiv. But Putin did not. Because, like Stalin before him, Putin is playing a long game — one that rewards persistence, terror, and intimidation over diplomacy. The only way he steps back is if he’s pushed back. Allowing any room for negotiation emboldens him, and history is the greatest evidence of this.

The New York Times reports that the Biden administration is considering providing Ukraine with long-range precision weapons. That move is a sign of strength — one that should be applauded, not undermined by talk of negotiations. But of course, some analysts are wringing their hands, worried that Russia may interpret this as an act of war. So what? Since when has Russia ever cared about interpretations? Putin has already claimed that Western involvement means war. In his eyes, NATO countries are already at war with Russia. Does anyone truly believe that stopping now, reeling back, and sending diplomats to Moscow will suddenly make him change his tune?

Moreover, the argument that providing Ukraine with such weapons risks nuclear escalation is naïve at best and cowardly at worst. Putin has been rattling his nuclear sabers for months. He stationed nuclear weapons in Belarus and consistently threatens the West with catastrophe. But it’s all part of his psychological warfare. This is a man who understands that the fear of nuclear war paralyzes Western leaders, making them hesitant to act. But if Putin truly wanted a nuclear exchange, we wouldn’t be here talking. The fact is, he won’t go nuclear unless his very regime is in danger — and while that day may come, it won’t be because Ukraine uses long-range missiles. It will be because the West buckled under fear.

Let’s also remember that in Russian culture, strength is admired, and weakness is pounced upon. By considering negotiations now, the West would be offering itself up as prey. Putin will see it as a victory — a sign that his brinkmanship worked. If anything, increasing Ukraine’s military capabilities is the best way to push him back, not some pie-in-the-sky negotiation deal that will never hold. Putin already knows he’s playing with house money; he just needs a weak handshake to cash in.

For those who argue that diplomacy is the only way forward, answer this: What exactly are you negotiating? Are you willing to trade Ukrainian sovereignty for “peace”? Because that’s what Putin wants — a Ukraine under his thumb, subservient to Moscow. And what message does that send to the Baltic states, to Poland, or even to China eyeing Taiwan? It tells them that if you wait long enough, the West will cave.

Remember John F. Kennedy’s words during the Cuban missile crisis: “Nuclear powers must avert those confrontations which bring an adversary to a choice of either a humiliating retreat or a nuclear war.” Kennedy knew the delicate balance required when dealing with nuclear-armed states, but he also knew that strength, not concession, was the key to avoiding catastrophe. The Biden administration should heed this wisdom and avoid the temptation to sit across from Putin in false hope of peace.

In any case, Putin has made his goals clear. In 2022, he openly declared that Russia would use “all available means” to defend its territory, even if it meant nuclear war. This is not the kind of man you negotiate with. This is a man whose worldview is dictated by domination, not diplomacy.

So, where does that leave us? Negotiating with Moscow is akin to dealing with the devil. And if history teaches us anything, it’s that signing treaties with devils doesn’t end well. In the best-case scenario, you’re left empty-handed; in the worst, you’ve set yourself up for disaster. The West cannot afford to make that mistake again. Putin is the devil incarnate, and no one in their right mind should ever sign a deal with the devil.

But if you're still keen on talking with Moscow, you might as well book your next vacation in Siberia — it's where the road to negotiating with tyrants tends to lead.