U.S. President Donald Trump is showing himself to be astonishingly stupid. Even before speaking with Russian ruler Vladimir Putin about how his invasion of Ukraine might end, Trump had Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announce initial, fundamental concessions in Brussels: concession of Ukrainian territory and no NATO membership for Ukraine. It is doubtful how and if that can ever be walked back.
Apparently, Trump is preparing for Putin to take advantage of him. As long as he gets his “deal,” then the gunfire stops. And that, as soon as possible. There is nothing else that we could wish for more ardently for the people of Ukraine. But should it be entirely at their expense? Should everything that Ukraine owns be relinquished even before talks begin?
Trump is not even considering entering into negotiations with Moscow together with Kyiv — as strongly as possible — although he has every resource with which to do so. But even that was predictable, because during his campaign, the Republican made clear that he would withdraw military aid from Kyiv’s government. At the time, it was feared that Trump could force Ukraine into a dictated peace — to surrender. Since Wednesday, we have also come a lot closer to that conjecture.
The European “partners,” for their part, were not informed about Trump’s foray with Putin, of course. Now, they are standing deflated on the edge of the playing field and bracing for what awaits them. On Wednesday the new head of the Pentagon told them what that would be: You’ll take care of Ukraine’s security. Alone, without us. So much for the new state of the trans-Atlantic alliance. The EU member nations should finally face this new reality.
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