US-Russia Talk On Ukraine Leaves Europe, Kyiv Irate
United States, one of Ukraine’s long and strong suppliers of weapons and supporters in its war against Russia, now appears to be distancing from the European country while standing itself by Russia. The remarks made by US President Donald Trump in recent days have proved that the US is no longer backing Kyiv.
President Trump recently called Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy a corrupt “dictator” while claiming that he is no longer Ukraine’s legitimate leader. He also dared to say that it was Ukraine that started the war with Russia. Trump’s allegations against the Ukrainian leader have found similarity with those of Russia, especially after the US officials met a Russian delegation in Riyadh to discuss the war recently.
Read Also: Over 12,000 North Korean Troops Join Russia’s War On Ukraine
The absence of a Ukrainian leader in the discussions with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia on the ongoing three-year-long war has irked Zelenskyy, who alleged that the US is helping Putin. Responding to Trump’s statements, Zelenskyy has accused Trump of “living in a disinformation space” created by Russia.
Read Also: Russia Fires First Nuclear-Capable Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles At Ukraine
Zelenskyy has asserted that no decisions about Ukraine without country’s presence would be accepted, adding that Europe must also have a seat at the table when decisions about it are being made. Along with Ukraine, the Europe is also one of the key stakeholder in the conflict, especially since the former belongs to the European countries.
European leaders have also expressed their concerns about the exclusion of Europe and Ukraine from the discussions between US officials and Ukrainian delegations in Saudi Arabia to find a solution to the ongoing war and have expressed that they want to be part of the negotiations. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has stated that a dictated peace will never find their support.
Referring to Trump’s unpredictable nature and carelessness about things, Timothy Ash, an associate fellow in the Russia and Eurasia program at Chatham House, said that the European leaders are concerned “because neither Ukraine nor Europe is represented, and they think Trump will sell Ukraine down the river.
Trump’s envoy for Ukraine had earlier suggested that Europe would not be at the table for Ukraine peace negotiations. Further, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had also ruled out the possibility of membership for Ukraine in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Trumped has also discarded the possibility of deployment of US troops in Ukraine after any deal is signed with Russia.
Read Also: North Korea Reopens Borders For Foreign Tourists: First Time Since COVID-19
However, with the US no longer interested in spending more for allies, and in NATO too, it is to see whether Europe could defend Ukraine against Russia. The US is already announced that it would pull back some of its troops from Europe while asking the allies countries to shoulder more responsibility and military spending in the NATO. Notably, against the US, the European countries has stepped up aid for Ukraine recently. All things considered, it would be wrong to believe that the Trump-Russia discussions, without support from Europe and Ukraine, could bring peace and lasting security in the region.
Last but not least, anti-incumbency sentiments against Zelenskyy have grown in Ukraine, as reflected last week in the parliament through a protest when he decided to sanction former president Petro Poroshenko. Though Zelenskyy’s first five-year term of office was due to come to an end in May 2024, Ukraine has been under martial law since the Russian invasion in February 2022, leading to the suspension of all elections and the continuation of the incumbent leader.
