Trump Tells European Leaders in Private That Putin Isn’t Ready to End War

 

Trump Tells European Leaders in Private That Putin Isn’t Ready to End War

According to reports, U.S. President Donald Trump told European leaders in a recent private call that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not ready to cease the war in Ukraine because Putin thinks he is winning the fight. European leaders, who had hoped to convince Trump to take a more aggressive stand against Russia, are uneasy about this disclosure.

Contradictory Messages from the White House

Trump has said in public that Putin wants peace, but his private remarks seem to contradict this. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted that the President still thinks Putin wants peace, as the White House later addressed Trump's remarks. Trump has acknowledged Putin's reluctance to stop the war, but he has refused to impose more sanctions or pressure on Russia, preferring to hold lower-level negotiations between Russia and Ukraine at the Vatican.

European Leaders Seek Stronger U.S. Commitment

Trump was joined in the discussion by the prime minister of Italy, the president of France, the head of the European Commission, and the chancellor of Germany. They had assumed that the US would be more dedicated to protecting Ukraine and stopping Russian aggression. However, because Trump has been hesitant to implement harsher sanctions or take a more aggressive stance, European partners are concerned about the transatlantic alliance's viability.

Concerns Over U.S. Policy Shift

With regard to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Trump's strategy represents a dramatic change in U.S. policy. Trump is no longer demanding U.S.-led talks because he has grown weary of both parties, despite his campaign pledges to end the war quickly. Both analysts and Ukrainians are alarmed by this action, fearing  Russia may use the delay to advance militarily. Trump has consistently been lenient toward Putin and seems driven by the possibility of future commercial agreements with Russia.

European Efforts to Reassert Influence

European politicians are responding to Trump's stance by trying to take back control of the peace process. The European Commission, France, Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Spain established the Weimar+ group to coordinate European responses to shifts in U.S. policy. The organization emphasizes that for Ukraine to remain stable over the long run, European engagement and security guarantees are crucial.

Outlook for Peace Talks

The scheduled commencement of negotiations in the Vatican in mid-June is seen by European officials as a chance to expose Putin's opposition to real talks. However, the absence of a shared stance between the US and Europe may make efforts to settle the dispute more difficult. The shifting dynamics between the main players in the conflict are still being observed by the world community.