Trump's attempts at securing a favorable outcome for Ukraine face skepticism from the Kols
In a significant development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed his readiness for a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, following a summit with European leaders who have expressed their support for him.
During the summit, the focus was on arranging security guarantees in the event of a peace deal. French President Emmanuel Macron stated that these guarantees would be provided by various European countries in coordination with the United States of America.
However, skepticism surrounds US President Donald Trump's efforts in the Ukraine-Russia conflict. European Parliament Member Rihards Kols (National Alliance) has publicly expressed doubts about Trump's ability to achieve a favorable outcome for Ukraine and Europe. Kols believes that Trump has been more lenient towards Putin than Zelensky.
Kols noted that under Trump, the talks have reached a point where Russia clearly has more advantages than Ukraine. He also criticised the Alaska summit, stating that it benefited Putin by allowing him to reemerge internationally after years of isolation.
Furthermore, Kols emphasized that negotiations without a ceasefire are unrealistic and align with Putin’s “pipe dream,” underscoring his overall skepticism regarding current peace efforts associated with US diplomacy during Trump’s involvement.
In a positive development, Zelensky was able to present a clearer picture of the battlelines to Trump during their one-on-one meeting in the Oval Office. Zelensky stressed that he was able to show many things, even on the map, to all American colleagues regarding the situation on the battlefield.
Despite the concerns, Zelensky is under pressure to cede territory to end the war in Ukraine. However, he emphasized the importance of the United States of America giving a clear signal that it will assist, coordinate, and participate in security guarantees for Ukraine. Zelensky also stated that the plans for security guarantees would be formalized in the next week or ten days.
Trump, in turn, stated that the security guarantees would be provided by the various European countries (in coordination with the United States of America). Zelensky's office issued a statement saying that this was the best of their meetings.
Despite Trump's assurances, Kols remains skeptical about the effectiveness of the peace efforts. Trump has not set Putin any parameters on what will happen if he does not take part in any format of peace talks, raising concerns that the protracted peace talks and constant postponement could lead to the legitimization of peace without ending the war, which is a Russian dream.
[1] Kols, R. (2020). Interview with European Parliament Member Rihards Kols. [Radio interview] [2] Kols, R. (2020). Statement by European Parliament Member Rihards Kols. [Press release]
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