LOS ANGELES (OC),–German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, 70, took on the war mongering voice of Germany, ranting out loud about 72-year-old Russian President Vladimir Putin. What does Merz think he’s doing slamming Putin in public when Trump and Putin have been engaged in delicate discussions to end the costly and bloody Ukraine War? “He is a war criminal,” Merz told German Public broadcaster slated to air Tuesday evening. Putin is “perhaps the most serious war criminal our time,” Merz said, signaling that he’s not on board with any attempts to settle the conflict politically. Calling Putin a war criminal at a time when Trump is working toward a peace plan? So, what does it tell you about Merz but, in general, the European Union as they’ve taken over the negotiation for Zelensky, taking a hard line on any talks with Putin or compromises on trading land-for peace?
Merz’s public remarks signal in the loudest terms that the EU has, for the time being, decided to take on funding proxy war with the Kremlin. Former President Joe Biden started the proxy war Feb/ 24, 2022, the day Putin invaded Ukraine. Months before that, Putin tried but failed to get Biden to discuss new security arrangements for Ukraine. Putin warned Biden that if he kept arming Ukraine to the teeth, he would be forced to implement a “special military operation” designed to demilitarize Ukraine. Over the last three years, Putin has seized some 25% of Ukraine best sovereign territory on the Black Sea coast. Every day that goes by, he takes more sovereign territory from Ukraine. But Merz thinks that any peace settlement must have Putin returning all the land he’s seized in three-and-a-half years of war. Merz, like Zelensky, supports continuing the war.
Trump has few real allies in the EU, most of whom have been duped by Zelensky to believe that if they give Putin any concessions, he will exploit that and seize more European territory in the future. Zelensky has benn gaslighting the EU for years saying that the Ukraine War defends European democracy. Why does Zelensky want to get into NATO when he thinks Ukraine armed services are sufficient to protect European democracy? When it comes to Merz speaking out today in such stark terms accusing Putin of a war criminal, it’s clear he doesn’t just speak for himself the entire EU. Visiting Poland recently where there’s no love lost with Putin, European Council President Ursula von der Leyen described Putin as a predator. Since von der Leyen speaks for the EU, it’s clear they’re prepared to fund more proxy war with the Kremlin, no longer interest in peace.
So where does Trump go from here knowing that he no longer has the EU backing his peace plans with Putin? Merz makes is clear, as does von der Leyen, that Putin can only be managed with force, both economically and military. EU officials don’t sound too worried about shifting the battlefield to Europe, knowing that keeping the war going increase the risks of its spreading to neighboring countries. Zelensky deliberately refers to Ukraine as part of Europe, when it was part of the Russian Federation and Soviet Union before it became independent in 1991. But Zelensky wants the EU to see Ukraine as part of Europe so he can rely on their collective defense. Judging by Merz and von der Leyen’s recent remarks, it looks like Brussels is prepared to take on the Russian Federation. No one in the EU has any viable peace plan, only continuing the war.
EU officials have consolidated their message from Merz and von der Leyen, calling Putin a war criminal and predator. With statements like those, it’s no wonder no one is at the peace table. Putin has been trying to tell Trump that conditions with Zelensky or the EU are not ripe for peace. Judging by Merz’s and von der Leyen’s public remarks, it’s clear that the EU decided to fund proxy war with the Kremlin. Merz said Putin has been committing “terror against the civilian population,” knowing that both countries are at war. Zelensky continues to strike deep inside the Russian Federation at the oild infrastructure, wreaking as much damage as possible. So, when it comes to Russia and Ukraine, there’s no evidence that either side wants to resolve the conflict peaceably. Trump couldn’t figure out why the EU was so opposed to going along with his peace plan.
Merz and von der Leyen have left no doubt left about the EU’s position on peace. EU officials agree with Zelensky that they should make no territorial concessions to Putin to achieve peace in Ukraine. EU officials see the Ukraine War as holding the line against the Russian Federation, requiring a tough response. Unlike Trump that sought to normalize U.S.-Russian relations, the EU looks content to stay at war with the Kremlin. Putin has explained this to Trump to help him see why peace talks are not possible at this time. Zelensky and the EU think that if they give up any land to Putin, it would invite Putin in the future to take more European land. Putin has never said he would go to war with NATO, but the EU treats the Ukraine War as holding the line against Putin. EU finds itself fighting its own battle in Ukraine, looking for Putin to back down.
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.
