LOS ANGELES.–European Union Foreign Policy Chief Joseph Borrell, 77, show why he’s slated for retirement by year’s end, proclaiming his support for the ongoing Ukraine War. Borrell has heard the 78-year-old President-elect Donald Trump supports a political solution to the conflict, not continuing to throw more cash at Ukraine’s 46-year-old President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Kiev government. “Certainly, it would not be a victory for the American leadership if Ukraine crumbles down and Putin wins the war,” during his first visit to Kiev since Trump’s Nov. 5 election landslide. Borrell knows that Ukraine is not winning the war with the Kremlin, so whatever happens, it’s not up to Trump to continue a failed policy. Biden and his 71-year-old Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in June 2022 that the purpose of the U.S. mission in Ukraine was to degrade the Russian military.
Borrell hoped to reassure Ukraine that the EU would not abandon its military commitment to Ukraine, even if the Trump administration opts for peace talks over more war. Borrell doesn’t speak for other EU officials, he’s out of touch with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz who has sought a peaceful settlement in Ukraine. Borrell acts like there isn’t support in the EU for a peaceful settlement, something complete nonsense. Most EU officials see war as a last resort, not the first way to solve conflicts. How strange for the EU policy chief to support war over a political settlement. Borrell knows that Ukraine, with all its U.S. backing, has lost the war in Ukraine, with Russian inflicting more infrastructure damage and taking more sovereign territory. Trump and his national security team sees no way out for Ukraine other than more costly and destructive fighting.
Washington Post, while unverified conjecture, reported that Trump and 72-year-old Russian President Vladimir Putin talked by phone last week. Kremlin officials denied knowing anything about a phone call between Putin and Trump, though Putin could be playing his cards close to the vest. Trump thinks that continuing the war is an unnecessary cost to the U.S. government doing more harm than good to Ukraine or Russia. Trump wants the U.S. to get back to normal diplomacy with Russia after Biden all but destroyed it. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the U.S. Russia relations were at a historic low under Biden. Russia no longer considers the U.S. a cooperating partner, instead a mortal enemy. Trump wants that all changed in his administration so Russia can return to a cooperative partner with the U.S. on matter affecting both nations and the world.
Borrell hasn’t caught up with the post Biden reality, including an admission that the Ukraine war strategy has failed, requiring an urgent change of direction. Trump plans to pressure Zelensky to accept peace talks aimed at ending the bloodshed and recognizing Ukraine’s sovereignty. But to get there, Zelensky must enter negotiations and compromise on the current map in Ukraine where the Kemlin controls 20-25% of Ukraine’s sovereign land. It is not a surprise,” Borrell said about the possibility of Trump already speaking with Putin. Borrell also said that things are changing in Germany where Scholz also wants to resume workable diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation. “That is part of the game,” Borrell said about Scholz having a change-of-heart about continuing the Ukraine War. Borrell knows that with Trump in office it’s a whole new ballgame.
Borrell’s last visit to Kiev is purely symbolic, not knowing where things would end up once Trump takes office. “I cannot anticipate what will be the position of the U.S.,” Borrell said before his meeting with Zelensky. Zelensky wants the status quo to go on with the U.S. and EU supplying billions in cash-and-weapons systems to continue the war goals of defeating the Russian Federation. “But let me say one thing, we have to escape the logic of the U.S. acting and we, Europe, reacting—we have to have our own capacity to act,” Borrell said, meaning whatever Trump does the EU should follow its own path. Borrell knows that no EU country wants to pay the billions in foreign and military aid. EU officials went along with Biden’s requests but know that things have changed with Trump elected president. EU will not continue to fund the Ukraine War if the U.S. backs out.
Borell and EU officials pretend in Kiev they everything on the Ukraine War is status quo at the moment. At any time Trump could get an agreement for a ceasefire and peace talks, something the EU should welcome considering they’ve spent nearly $125 billion on Ukraine compared to over $200 billion to the U.S. All EU officials know that Trump wants to move the conflict to the peace table regardless of the territorial concession needed to bring about a peace settlement. Russia had troops in Ukraine in Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk before the Feb. 24, 2022 invasion. Zelensky is in no position to say he won’t compromise and move the conflict to the peace table. Zelensky could have settled the conflict in March 2022 but opted for a reckless war that he knew was impossible to win. With all the death and destruction in Ukraine, you’d think that Zelensky would seek any way to end the carnage.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
