The world doesn’t need another Hundred Years’ War. But it’s beginning to feel as though that’s what we have . . . and no one feels it more than the people of Ukraine, suffering through their fifth frigid winter of Russia’s “special military operation.”

The actual Hundred Years’ War between England and France (1337-1453) was fought between armies on horseback and on foot, with spears, swords, and bows and arrows. This one in Ukraine has targeted civilians — women, children, the elderly and infirm — with missiles and drones. And no amount of diplomatic effort has been able to end it, because of the intransigence of one man: Vladimir Putin.

And the inconceivable ignorance of another: Donald Trump.

This week has seen yet another round of talks designed to buy more time for Russia, but with an added twist: an attempt by Putin to gain the release of frozen Russian assets . . . and with the help of the hapless Trump.

It started on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum at Davos, with a chat between the money men from the U.S. and Russia. From there, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner followed Kirill Dmitriev to Moscow, where they met with Putin for three hours on January 22nd in what was described by Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov as “exceptionally substantive, constructive, and, I would say, extremely frank and confidential.” [Helen Regan and Darya Tarasova, CNN, January 23, 2026.]

In other words, contentious and open-ended, as confirmed by Ushakov’s next statement, warning that “without resolving the territorial issue . . . one should not count on achieving a long-term settlement.” He added that, until a final agreement is reached, Russia would continue to pursue its objectives “on the battlefield, where the Russian Armed Forces hold the strategic initiative.” [Id.]

The one thing that did come out of the discussion in the Kremlin was an agreement to convene a long-sought-after trilateral meeting in the United Arab Emirates on Friday, described by Ushakov as the “first meeting of the trilateral working group on security issues.” [Id.]

And it did take place as announced: two days of talks in Abu Dhabi, which Ukraine’s chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov, said in advance would focus on “the parameters for ending Russia’s war and the further logic of the negotiation process.” [Stephen Quillen and Usaid Siddiqui, Al Jazeera, January 24, 2026.]

The result? Anybody’s guess.

The talks concluded today without an announcement of any result. And as the meetings were underway, Russia confirmed Ushakov’s warning by continuing its air attacks on Kyiv and Kharkiv, killing at least one person and injuring dozens of others.

Ushakov did also say that it would be the “first meeting,” so we should probably assume there will be others. But will they be any more productive, as long as Putin refuses to offer the slightest concessions toward a settlement? Or as long as Trump continues to mollify him?

Thus far, all we’ve seen is a lot of people burning up untold amounts of jet fuel as they hop around the globe in search of a resolution. And I’m beginning to think we (the U.S.) may need to send in a whole new team of negotiators, with an entirely new modus operandi.

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And what about those frozen Russian assets? Well, that little wrench was thrown into the works when Trump invited Putin to join his new “Board of Peace.” And Putin — ever the opportunist — responded that he would consider it, and would pay the $1 billion fee for a permanent seat on the Board, if Trump would help to unfreeze the Russian assets being held by the West since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Putin promised that when that happened, he would turn over the $1 billion.

And if Trump buys that, I have a bridge in Brooklyn I’d like to sell him.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
1/24/26