Violence needs to cease in Ukraine and Gaza
In recent times, the proxy wars in Ukraine and Gaza have continued unabated, their local causes deeply rooted in history. Amidst this global turmoil, the European Union (EU) has found itself sidelined from significant international politics.
The EU's absence from independent diplomatic initiatives, such as the China-Brazil initiative or Ukraine's peace initiatives, has been a point of criticism. This detachment from international politics has been particularly evident in the Trump-Putin meeting, where no representatives from the EU or European states were present.
The EU's removal from such high-profile diplomatic events can be attributed to the US-led nature of recent peace efforts. President Donald Trump has initiated and led high-profile meetings with Putin, including the summit in Alaska, which the Kremlin treated as opportunities to gain propaganda wins, partly sidelining more coordinated European diplomacy.
European leaders, including EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, have viewed these peace push initiatives with caution. They argue that such moves hand Putin a propaganda advantage and risk playing into Kremlin tactics. The EU has emphasized that any durable solution must include Ukrainian consent and recognize Russia’s unwillingness for genuine peace talks without facing military defeat.
European countries like Germany have expressed readiness to provide security guarantees for Ukraine and participate in allied defense support. However, they stress that negotiations must start with a ceasefire and must not bypass Ukraine’s leadership. No independent European-led direct talks with Russia analogous to Trump’s meetings have been initiated recently.
Russian officials have rejected direct talks on security guarantees unless Russia has a veto role, reflecting Moscow’s lack of interest in a real peace process beyond its terms. This hardline stance complicates any European diplomatic initiative separate from US efforts.
Despite these challenges, hope for an end to the proxy wars in Ukraine persists. The argument that Ukraine and the West would use a ceasefire to prepare for the next offensive does not convince many, given the current situation in Ukraine.
It is hoped that the EU, including Germany, will return to independent international politics. The end of neo-conservative strategists' dominance in US foreign policy is a positive development that could potentially lead to an end of proxy wars between the US and Russia. The killing must stop in both Ukraine and Gaza, and the EU's global reputation may be regained through its involvement in independent international politics.
- The EU's involvement in independent diplomatic initiatives could potentially help address the ongoing proxy wars in Ukraine and Gaza, given its recent detachment from significant international politics.
- The EU's re-engagement in global news, such as politics, general news, crime and justice, and war and conflicts, could significantly contribute to ending the proxy wars and regaining its global reputation.
