Washington no longer respects Ukrainians and Europeans

The British weekly The Economist wrote after Friday's Ukrainian-Russian talks in Istanbul on the possibilities of ending the war that the intensity of public diplomacy suggests serious negotiations behind the scenes and that the coming days may prove decisive for a more fundamental shift. It added that US President Donald Trump is the focus of all the negotiating parties, with each of them adapting their rhetoric to his language and social media posts, and at the same time pointed out that Russian President Vladimir Putin is also playing his own tough and unyielding game.

On the surface, the "Istanbul game" was taking place, which Putin effectively imposed on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with Trump's support. Zelensky said that he did not mind Putin's absence from the talks, nor the low level of the Russian delegation. Moreover, he did not accept the demand of Ukraine and the leaders of Britain, Germany, France and Poland that Russia must first accept a 30-day ceasefire in order for talks to take place. Zelensky had to agree to the talks out of "respect for the Americans."

Trump had been preparing for Monday's phone call with Putin since last Thursday, making it clear that he did not intend to pressure him to end the war, perhaps by threatening to impose more sanctions. He mentioned that he had good relations with him and that a personal meeting was the only way to achieve a breakthrough to end the war.

He again told Zelensky that he had no cards in his hands. And even though Trump had communicated with the Europeans before the dialogue with Putin, he had no intention of listening to their wishes to be tougher on him. Monday's The Financial Times quoted an unnamed European minister as saying that the Europeans' "nonsense flow of words" would not change Trump's view of Russia.

Trump's two-hour phone call with Putin on Monday suggested that US-Russian negotiations to resolve the conflict may have been taking place behind the scenes. Trump agreed with Putin's idea that the first step should be to conclude a memorandum on a possible peace agreement, which could result in a ceasefire for a certain period. He also made it clear that the US would leave the conclusion of the agreement to Moscow and Kiev without American mediation. The negotiations will certainly not be easy. The Ukrainians may be under pressure during the negotiations due to Russia's progress on the front. But they cannot refuse, because they would risk losing American support.

After the phone call with Putin, Trump also mentioned opening up unlimited possibilities for cooperation between Russia and the US. And Vice President J.D. Vance added that Trump considers the "fundamental distrust" between the West and Russia to be absolutely stupid. It is not surprising, then, that, according to Bloomberg sources, Washington has proposed to Moscow to resume the activities of the Russia-NATO Council.

Washington is guided by its own geopolitical interests and no longer has much regard for Ukrainians and Europeans.

Miloš Balabán, Právo Daily