Trump and the European Chorus: Shaking Up Ukraine's War
"Request for a quick call within the next two minutes, addressed to Donald."
The Istanbul rendezvous brings nothing unexpected, yet the week has sprung a surprise - when Europeans echo in unity and still find themselves dealing with Trump at the crack of dawn, there's a ripple in this ongoing conflict.
"'ello Trump! Let's chat with Zelensky in a jiffy." That's how Macron kicks off his Saturday - holiday or no holiday. Macron and four other European heads of state find themselves huddled in a cozy living room setting in the Kiev Presidential Palace, preparing to stamp a resounding message on Putin's doorstep with firmness yet finesse.
Ready, Set, Callback!
"Got a minute to chat back with Zelensky and the gang?" Macron inquires over the line. Two minutes may not be enough for a complete shower, but considering the urgency of the discussion that lies ahead in world politics, such seconds may as well be wasted. Macron ensures Trump has an idea about the impending topic: Zelensky's agreed to Trump's 30-day ceasefire proposal. And Zelensky's eager to broadcast the decision.
"No issues, I'll get back to you in two ticks with Selensky." The phone call concludes, leaving us curious about the deeper conversation to follow.
The mission is delicate. Europeans aim to convince Trump to present Putin with a demand for a ceasefire rather than just an offer. The threat of increased pressure looms over Moscow should Putin opt to ignore the call. Europeans are eager to leverage Trump's persuasive power to amplify their impact. After all, the US dollar reigns supreme in the global economy, and the US imposes a more stringent sanctions policy. Such secondary sanctions don't feature prominently in the EU's arsenal, weakening the bite of their penalties.
The Long Shot of Capitulation
So far, Trump's public statements have sided more with Putin's aggressive actions than Zelensky's defensive stance. Nevertheless, the Europeans have managed to achieve something they've never managed before - a joint demand by leading European countries and the USA that Russia take a step towards peace, backed by the threat of harsher sanctions against Moscow and increased military aid for Kyiv. The ball's now in Putin's court.
Politics Beyond the Border: Theater of Peace? It's the unity among Western Ukraine supporters that sparks a ray of optimism. Is peace finally a possibility, for the first time since February 2022? According to Friedrich Merz, "there's a small chance."
Meanwhile, Istanbul's the stage for Putin's response. Alas, Russia's yet to respond to the ceasefire demand. Putin's spokesman, Dmitri Peskow, deemed the "language of ultimatums" inappropriate when handling Russia. Instead, Putin proposes direct negotiations with Ukraine, sans preconditions.
Negotiations With a Twist
These negotiations kick off in Istanbul, and the twist becomes clear immediately - continuous shooting, bombing, and death during negotiations would be accepted by the Russians. A devastating blow to the hopes of lasting peace. Worse still, Russia demands to resume negotiations from where they left off in 2022.
Back in 2022, the Russians demanded that Ukraine abandon its powerful armed forces and dissolve almost entirely, leaving only police forces in their place. Ukraine should tolerate the presence of Russian soldiers on its land. Finland or Austria's neutrality during the Cold War is not what Putin's after - he seeks total isolation and defenselessness.
Politics at the Crossroads: Istanbul Rewind Should Ukraine yield to Putin's demands and become virtually defenseless, or will they hold their ground? Trump's resolute support could sway the balance. Currently on a Gulf tour, Trump is in a unique position to extend a personal invitation to Putin and join the Istanbul peace talks this Friday.
It's a long shot, but as they say, anything could happen with Trump. Even if the Istanbul negotiations are doomed to fail or face derailment, one can't deny the impact of the Western union - the show of unity, determination, and a shared desire for peace has undoubtedly made an impression on Putin.
Sources: ntv.de, search results
- Friedrich Merz
- Emmanuel Macron
- Volodymyr Zelensky
- Keir Starmer
- Donald Tusk
- Donald Trump
- Vladimir Putin
- Kyiv
- Ceasefire
- Peace talks
- The European Union, along with key European leaders and the United States, are collectively determined to leverage diplomatic channels in the ongoing war in Ukraine, employing a unified approach to pressure Putin into accepting a ceasefire.
- As the geopolitical scene unfolds, the war-and-conflicts in Ukraine continues to be a subject of general-news discussion, with the fight against terrorism being part of the broader conversation, as the world watches with bated breath for a peaceful resolution.
