Would Vladimir Putin have taken into account the scenario that unfolded this week? It was not Ukraine that collapsed under the constant Russian aggression, or the European Union that argued about support for Ukraine, but Donald Trump, the most powerful man in the world, who behaved as the weakest link in a crucial phase of the war: the beginning of the endgame. That is not only striking, it is especially alarming.
The American president and self-proclaimed master negotiator spoke two hours with Putin on Tuesday, but could not present more afterwards than Putin’s minimum commitment to not attack the energy infrastructure of Ukraine for a month. This while the approach was a general ceasefire of thirty days. From the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zenskyp, Trump already had this promise in his pocket, but he gave Putin no reason to join.
With bewilderment, the world looks at how Trump only seems to demand something of one party in this conflict – notbene the victim side. Ukraine must be willing to state part of his territory and run NATO membership. It is not allowed to request American security guarantees and is afterwards presented an account for earlier American support, in the form of a raw material deal.
As the pinnacle of cynicism, Zensky must consider that deal as a security guarantee: US economic interests in Ukraine will certainly prevent Putin from further attacks, Trump claims. But if the United States is not willing to defend those interests militarily, there is of course no question of deterrence. If Zensky would try to sell this non-reasoning to the Ukrainian people, he would indeed be in need of replacement, as Trump suggested earlier.
So far there has been one short -term moment when Trump also seemed to be strict to Putin. Two weeks ago explained he ‘large-scale sanctions and import duties’ to consider if Russia was not prepared for a ceasefire. But now that Putin has made it clear this week not to participate for the time being, Trump does not mention a word about sanctions anymore.
Nor does he offer openly counterbalance to the Russian requirements, which are naturally unacceptable for Zensky. Like this say Putin that all military support for Ukraine must be stopped, as well as the provision of information. That would turn OE-Krain into a bird for the cat, an absurd bet for a peace agreement. In short, Putin demands the maximum, he gives almost nothing back and the main negotiator makes it happen.
The big question is why Trump does this. It looks like the ignorance of a man who does not understand that ending a war is more complicated than closing a real estate deal. Who is so happy to be seen as a peace founder that he is willing to deliver one party to the other. Or is it the willing will, and this course of events at the world order that Trump has in mind, in which strong men let each other go their way to a large extent?
After all, the latter also happened this week in Gaza, where Israel resumed the bombing in full force and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a new ground offensive. Almost six hundred people were killed in four days, including many citizens, and the hope for a new phase in the ceasefire was wiped away. Trump fully supported the attacks, while in January he still managed to reach the honor of the temporary file that his team at that time, together with that of President Biden. The solution he sees for Gaza is just as harsh as simplistic: the Palestinians have to evacuate. Just like with Ukraine, this proposal is so one -sided that the art of the deal is far to be found.
Trump gives two leaders who international become sought Spacious job for war crimes. There is no art about that, that is weak leadership. At the same time, he has increasingly autocratic behavior in his own country, among other things due to the deportation of more than two hundred Venezuelan migrants to the inhumane prisons of El Salvador, against the ruling of a federal court. The judge in question must be dropped off, according to Trump.
The president shows the same reflex here as with Ukraine and Gaza: who makes it difficult for him, he does not convince with arguments, but must disappear from the scene. The rights of entire peoples must be there if necessary. Incorrect and gomwil come together like that and that will only strengthen autocrats like Putin. What Donald Trump shows is dangerously weak leadership.
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