Europe experiences harsh reality before Trump-Putin meeting
US President Donald Trump is once again bringing Ukraine and Europe a hard time. Before Friday's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, it can be read from several of his statements that the negotiating strategy of the head of the White House will not be liked by the allies or Kiev.
He did not give details about the conditions for ending the war, limiting himself to vague phrases that he hoped for a constructive meeting at which he would ask Putin to stop the war, saying that he would try to sit him down at the negotiating table with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Still, it is clear that the crucial point of Trump's strategy is a "land swap," which nevertheless effectively envisages Ukrainian territorial concessions to Russia.
Trump has made it clear that if Kiev does not agree to such an agreement, he will withdraw from further negotiations. His words also warn the Ukrainians that rejecting the agreement means stopping US military aid. He called the question of whether Ukraine can defeat Russia "stupid". "Russia is a warring country. That's what they do. They are waging a lot of wars. They defeated Hitler and Napoleon," Trump said.
. The participation of US Vice President J. D. Vance in a meeting with European leaders and Ukrainian officials in London was probably intended to send a signal that they can have an influence on Trump's decision-making, but Vance immediately put this into perspective in an interview with Fox News.
In it, he said two important things: the US is ending its funding of Ukraine, and if Europe wants to continue doing so, it will be on its own, because Ukraine is its "backyard".
A rather harsh reality looms in front of Europe. It can remain unwavering in its diplomatic support for Kyiv in order to obtain favorable terms for a future peace agreement or to secure a ceasefire. But without military support, which Europe does not have, it will only be symbolic. It is true that the ability to maintain Ukraine's territorial integrity depends on the constant supply of weapons, troops and the political will of the US. And that, as we can see, has its limits.
In this context, the prediction of the well-known commentator and analyst Wolfgang Münchau at the beginning of the year comes to mind that due to its economic and political condition, the European Union is absolutely incapable of financing the war, and "if anyone desperately needs an agreement to end it, it is the European Union." The clash with reality is sometimes very painful.
Moreover, the "Alaska Summit" shows that Washington is increasingly beginning to pursue a new realpolitik strategy. Trump has repeatedly publicly stated that the conflict in Ukraine can only be resolved through negotiations between the leaders of the United States and Russia. Last week, he also said that he expects to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping by the end of the year. Suddenly, there is no longer any talk of "crushing sanctions". A "spheres of influence" policy may be looming on the horizon. And Europe is not ready for that.
Miloš Balabán, Právo Daily