Trump’s Momentary Corrective Shift
Published in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
(Germany) on 9 May 2025
by Nikolas Busse (link to original)
Europe cannot conduct its Ukraine policy in opposition to the United States. For this reason, Germany’s Chancellor Merz was right to get on board with the U.S. president's cease-fire proposal. After all, Trump's position has shifted in several ways.
It makes no sense for Europe to pursue a Ukraine policy in opposition to Donald Trump. The new German federal government is a case in point. While the last German government afforded itself the luxury of a six-month sabbatical from foreign policy matters, the American president fundamentally changed the terms of engagement. Trump will not support Ukraine to the same extent as his predecessor, and that president already had enough trouble getting Ukraine aid packages through Congress. The prospect of realizing a Ukrainian victory has become rather distant, if it ever really lay within reach.
It is only realistic, therefore, for Friedrich Merz to take up Trump’s proposals. After all, the president’s position has shifted in a number of ways. On Thursday, he was no longer threatening to "take a pass" on negotiations, but instead said that the U.S. remained committed to the peace process. He emphasized the importance of cooperation with Europe, and repeated his sanctions threat. Although this comment was aimed at both parties to the conflict, it came not long after he spoke of potentially employing punitive economic measures against Russia.
Trump’s Leniency toward Putin
Trump would never admit it, but his failure to make much progress to date stems from his lenient treatment of Vladimir Putin. Now that Merz has also threatened to impose new sanctions on Russia, Trump’s other error of giving Moscow the impression of a divided West is being corrected.
By Trump's standards, his approach to the Ukrainian question is peculiarly persistent, which is also why his customary zigzagging should be seen as tactical rather than strategic. His proposed 30-day unconditional cease-fire* could potentially prepare the ground for peace negotiations.
From the outset, securing peace in Ukraine was always the ultimate goal of Western policy. As such, the accusation of Western “warmongering” has never been justified. That said, the precise details of any peace agreement are crucial. From a European perspective, Ukraine's survival must be assured if it is to endure as a bulwark against Russia. The West will only succeed in this aim if it acts collectively as one.
*Translator's Note: Trump overrode his own 30-day cease-fire proposal on Saturday by demanding Ukraine "IMMEDIATELY" agree to Putin's counterproposal of talks in Istanbul this Thursday.
It makes no sense for Europe to pursue a Ukraine policy in opposition to Donald Trump. The new German federal government is a case in point. While the last German government afforded itself the luxury of a six-month sabbatical from foreign policy matters, the American president fundamentally changed the terms of engagement. Trump will not support Ukraine to the same extent as his predecessor, and that president already had enough trouble getting Ukraine aid packages through Congress. The prospect of realizing a Ukrainian victory has become rather distant, if it ever really lay within reach.
It is only realistic, therefore, for Friedrich Merz to take up Trump’s proposals. After all, the president’s position has shifted in a number of ways. On Thursday, he was no longer threatening to "take a pass" on negotiations, but instead said that the U.S. remained committed to the peace process. He emphasized the importance of cooperation with Europe, and repeated his sanctions threat. Although this comment was aimed at both parties to the conflict, it came not long after he spoke of potentially employing punitive economic measures against Russia.
Trump’s Leniency toward Putin
Trump would never admit it, but his failure to make much progress to date stems from his lenient treatment of Vladimir Putin. Now that Merz has also threatened to impose new sanctions on Russia, Trump’s other error of giving Moscow the impression of a divided West is being corrected.
By Trump's standards, his approach to the Ukrainian question is peculiarly persistent, which is also why his customary zigzagging should be seen as tactical rather than strategic. His proposed 30-day unconditional cease-fire* could potentially prepare the ground for peace negotiations.
From the outset, securing peace in Ukraine was always the ultimate goal of Western policy. As such, the accusation of Western “warmongering” has never been justified. That said, the precise details of any peace agreement are crucial. From a European perspective, Ukraine's survival must be assured if it is to endure as a bulwark against Russia. The West will only succeed in this aim if it acts collectively as one.
*Translator's Note: Trump overrode his own 30-day cease-fire proposal on Saturday by demanding Ukraine "IMMEDIATELY" agree to Putin's counterproposal of talks in Istanbul this Thursday.
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