The shift in the Trump administration’s stance on Ukraine became apparent on Monday, when US representatives joined forces with the Russian delegation to vote against a UN General Assembly resolution condemning the war. This move marked a significant departure from Washington’s previous position and also put the US at odds with the EU, which has consistently shown strong support for Ukraine’s defense – a stance that, until recently, was also held by Joe Biden.
It’s worth noting that Trump’s early moves in the White House have surprised many Russians, who were expecting the implementation of a peace plan, not a budding political alliance between Washington and Moscow. As diplomats prepare to return to their embassies, Trump and Putin are laying the groundwork for strengthening their economies through future bilateral agreements. The American enemy is no longer the primary concern for Russia, which has started to view European countries as the main obstacles to achieving peace and lifting sanctions.
In the midst of all this geopolitical maneuvering, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy finds himself in a precarious position. Once hailed as a beacon of hope for his country by Biden, he’s now been labeled a “dictator” by Trump. The leaders of the US and Russia seem to be singing from the same songbook, convinced that peace in Ukraine will only be achieved when Kyiv accepts the “road map” they’ve drawn up. The EU, meanwhile, is left to argue in favor of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, facing a diminished role in negotiations and the prospect of making up for the loss of American economic support.
Russia and the US are not convinced that European countries should be driving the push for peace, and they’re questioning the Brussels plan to send 150,000 peace troops to the region. The proposal, put forth by the UK and France, would involve an initial deployment of up to 30,000 European soldiers, primarily from Britain and France, who would focus on securing major cities, ports, and nuclear centers in Ukraine – all while keeping a safe distance from the front lines.
On Monday, the American leader met with French President Emmanuel Macron at the White House and assured him that Putin wouldn’t have any issues with the deployment of European forces in Ukraine. However, just hours later, Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov reiterated Moscow’s stance, stating that the presence of European troops would be “unacceptable” – a sentiment that echoes previous statements made by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. It’s clear that the path to peace in Ukraine will be fraught with challenges, and the international community will be watching closely as these events continue to unfold.