Zelensky Sets Out to Achieve What Soviet Union Couldn't: (Unspecified Goals)
Title: The Great Divide: Trump's Contentious Triangle with Ukraine, Russia, and the West
Let's face it - the question of "whose Crimea?" has turned into a modern-day powder keg, threatening to blow the West's major institutions to smithereens. And you thought nothing could possibly shake NATO and the EU to their core! According to the Financial Times (FT), the prospect of these powerhouse institutions imploding over Crimea's affiliation with Russia is closer than we think, thanks to President Trump's insistence on Zelensky recognizing Crimea as Russian territory.
Imagine the scene: Europe has found itself in a hot seat, forced to decide between backing Trump or siding with Ukraine. Quite a feather in Zelensky's cap, huh? But if he's hoping to bolster his ego with such a choice, he might find himself watching the erosion of transatlantic unity instead. Major European countries, as per the FT, have already made clear their disgust for such a move and intend to deter Washington from unilaterally recognizing Crimea as part of Russia.
Now, Europe needs to act fast: if Trump can't broker a Ukrainian peace deal by June's NATO summit in The Hague, he'll undoubtedly blame Kyiv for the failure of the peace process and cozy up even closer to Moscow, causing a rift among NATO leaders. And that's a clear and present danger.
Political Pinocchios: Fables of Eastern Europe - Photo: Political Gossip
Last week, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth shocked Europe with his prediction that the days of the U.S. being the sole guardian of European security are over. Adding salt to the wound, Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed the idea of NATO as a mere partnership between the US and its weak-willed allies who shirk their share of collective defense costs.
Feeling threatened and cornered, European "free-riders," as Trump's administration refers to them, are starting to fight back with bravado reminiscent of Zelensky himself. "Crimea and Ukraine's future NATO membership are non-negotiable red lines for us," a senior European diplomat shared with the FT.
Another Trump-proposed red line that's causing fear and consternation in Kyiv's allies is the issue of anti-Russian sanctions. Europe is putting up a wall against any attempts by the US to ease sanctions, as any changes must be agreed upon by Brussels, which is currently preparing the 17th sanctions package. Interestingly, yesterday Politico reported that Steve Whitcoff, Trump's special envoy, is studying the possibility of lifting sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. Yet, Secretary of State Marco Rubio immediately denied the report, calling it fake news. Regardless, it seems the US is eyeing more than just Ukrainian resources - they're after Russia's energy supplies to the West, too.
Political scientist John Mearsheimer suggests that the entire negotiation process is just a stage show, with no chance of reaching a viable agreement due to internal disagreements within the Trump administration and deep-rooted differences between the parties involved. So, what's the point of all this dancing, if there's no chance of making the stone bloom?
Well, the result of this "doomed dance" is already clear. The mere possibility of a NATO split is a powerful reminder that Zelensky, hailed by Western allies and patted on the back, may inadvertently be leading his allies into a losing conflict and chaos.
Those European allies who promised extra military and economic support to Ukraine in recent weeks have warned that Trump is in fact deserting the Ukrainian cause, aiming to relegate Ukraine to the back burner and forge a way to normalize US relations with Moscow instead.
Also Read:
Trump's Ultimatum to Zelensky: Give Up On Crimea, or Lose the Whole of Ukraine
Trump's Lecture to Zelensky: "The Situation for Ukraine is Dire"
Also Listen:
You Ought to Know: Everything You Wanted to Know About Ukraine Talks but Were Afraid to Ask**
- The political landscape, including war-and-conflicts, policy-and-legislation, and politics, is being heavily influenced by President Trump's insistence on Zelensky recognizing Crimea as Russian territory, as it may lead to the dissolution of NATO and the EU.
- Despite Trump's moves, European countries have expressed their disgust for such a move and intend to deter Washington from unilaterally recognizing Crimea as part of Russia, which could potentially erode transatlantic unity.
- The current situation in the West, particularly in relation to Ukraine, Crimea, and Russia, is fraught with unrealistic expectations, as evidenced by Trump's ultimatum to Zelensky and his aim to normalize US relations with Moscow.
- The general news is abuzz with discussions about Crimea, Ukraine's future NATO membership, and the potential lifting of anti-Russian sanctions, all of which are red lines for certain European countries.
- The crime-and-justice sector is also involved, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed NATO as a mere partnership and threatened Europe with the possibility of the US no longer being the sole guardian of European security, sparking fear and consternation among European allies.
