LOS ANGELES.–President Donald Trump warned the European Union that slapping Russia with more sanctions would not coerce Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet with 47-year-old Ukrainian President Volodymyr. Trump refused to join the sanctions because he’s trying to end the Ukraine War and restore U.S.-Russian diplomatic relations. Trump has his times of frustration with the agonizing peace process where it’s clear that Zelensky has no interest in any of Putin’s terms for a settlement. Putin expressed interest in settling the war but no on Zelensky’s terms, something now adopted by the European Union. Trump was once in charge of negotiating Ukrainian peace, then envious members of the EU, like French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and U.K. Prime Minister, decided to meddle in the peace process now in limbo.
What is the EU thinking that it’s a show of strength, often a refrain heard from Merz, to slap the Kremlin with new sanctions? Putin never rejected the idea of peace talks, he simply wanted them done more methodically with delegations meeting and working out the details. Putin sent delegations led by Vladimir Medinsky to Istanbul to work things out, only to be told by the EU that it’s not enough, they want him to meet directly with Zelensky. Well, there’s no point to direct talks if neither side is willing to make the compromises needed to get a ceasefire and end to the Ukraine War. Zelensky told the EU at the Munich Security Conference that Trump didn’t care about European Security. Zelensky’s proof was that Trump ended former President Joe Biden’s proxy war strategy with the Kremlin. Putin doesn’t like all of Trump’s policies but he trusts him now.
Where’s the trust in the EU when they’re trying to railroad Putin into direct talks with Zelensky before both sides work out an acceptable agreement. Zelensky complained that Trump’s peace efforts all favored Putin, something not true but, for whatever reason, accepted by the EU. Zelensky rejects any calls by Putin to keep spoils of the Ukraine, including sovereign land captured over the last three years of war. Why the EU thought hitting Russia with more sanctions would hasten the end to the Ukraine War is anyone’s guess. “Only logic and reasoned arguments can bring Russia to the negotiating table,” Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Russian TV. “It is impossible to force Russia through any kind of pressure or violence,” Peskov said, stating the obvious. Yet for some unknown reason, the EU thinks it can push the Kremlin into ceasefire and peace talks.
Trump warned that more sanctions would only delay the peace process by promoting bad will with the Russian Federation. What were Macron, Merz and Starmer thinking that they could strong arm Putin into making concessions on a 30-day unconditional cease fire or eventual face-to-face peace talks? Peskov made clear that whatever punitive measures used by the EU, they would have the opposite effect on peace talks. After Trump’s intervention in Iran, the EU should welcome his feedback with open arms, knowing that he’s the only world leader with enough rapport with Putin to bring about ceasefire and peace talks. Trump never expected that his biggest obstacle to peace would be Zelensky who refuses to acknowledge that he’s lost the Ukraine War to Russia. Zelensky still insists on getting NATO membership, something regarded as a deal breaker for Putin.
When you think of last’s weeks NATO summit, Secretary-General Mark Rutte praised Trump to no end for his successful mission setting back Iran’s nuclear enrichment programs. Trump did much more than neutralize Ukraine’s nuke industry, he exposed Iran as a feckless military power, similar to Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein before ousted from power. Every EU country thought that Iran had the most power military in the Middle East, warning about a wider conflagration that never happened. Now we know exactly why the wider war never took place. No Middle East country wants to take on Israel, especially after watching Iran defenseless, unable to stop Israel’s 12-days of devastating bombing attacks. Other Mideast countries were stunned by Iran’s military incompetence. So, when it comes to the future, Iran no longer has much clout in the Middle East.
Trump has dramatically changed U.S.-Russian relations, letting Putin know that he no longer supports proxy war with the Kremlin. But instead of letting Trump negotiate an acceptable end to the Ukraine War, the EU meddled, pushing peace out of reach. Trump went to the NATO summit with high praise from NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, crediting Trump with saving NATO. If Zelensky has paid attention, he knows that stabbing Trump in the back at Munich got him nowhere because no one thinks that Trump isn’t concerned about European Security. Zelensky gaslights the EU into thinking Putin wants to seize more European territory, the rationale behind pouring more cash-and-weapons into Kiev. But it’s time for the EU to tell Zelensky that he’s not getting Brussels to pay for his war with the Kremlin. Zelensky should be told to let Trump settle the conflict.
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.