This is simply a minute that Europeans and Ukrainians have feared for months, if not years.
But erstwhile it yet came, on the winter afternoon, erstwhile Kiev was freezing in the icy temperatures, broadcast and scale the peace plan of Donald Trump shocked allies of Ukraine.
The United States has effectively cancelled its support for Ukraine, which resists Russia's invasion, and Trump announced immediate negotiations with Russian president Vladimir Putin and told the leaders of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensk to abandon hope to reclaim all the lands occupied by Russia.
Secretary of defence of the United States Pete Hegseth was the first to uncover the U.S. position at a gathering at the NATO office in Brussels.
Hegseth told his counterparts gathered in the capital of Belgium that Zelenski has no chance of achieving his goal of expelling Russian forces from Crimea and the east part of the country and returning Ukraine to its pre-2014 borders.
"The pursuit of this illusory goal will only prolong the war and origin more suffering," Hegseth said.
Conversation with Vladimir Putin
Hegseth then warned that the United States would withdraw from its European safety commitments, giving up the historical function they played since the end of planet War II, and presented a imagination in which European governments will bear the primary work for their own defence — as well as for Ukraine's defence.
Shortly thereafter, Trump put out all hope of avoiding a fresh cold reality. "I just had a long and very productive telephone conversation with Russian president Vladimir Putin," wrote the president of the United States in a post on social media.
‘We besides agreed that Our teams will begin negotiations immediately and we will start by calling the president of Ukraine Zelenski to inform him of the conversation. Millions died in a war that wouldn't have happened if I were president, but that's what happened, so it has to stop. There should be no more fatalities!’
Zelenski bravely faced the situation, summing up in a post on X what he called a “significant” conversation with Trump. "President Trump shared details of his conversation with Putin," stated the Ukrainian leader. "No 1 wants peace more than Ukraine. Together with the US, we plan further steps to halt Russian aggression and guarantee lasting, reliable peace. As president Trump said, let's do it.”
"Decisions on Ukraine without Ukraine"
European diplomats seemed insecure about how to react, trying to process the details of Hegseth and Trump's announcements. The brutal fact is that — at least at European Union level — relations with the fresh White home are so bad that they don't exist. president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen did not comment immediately. advanced typical of the Union for abroad Affairs and safety Policy Kaja Kallas She later wrote on X that "Europe must play a central function in all negotiation". ‘The independency and territorial integrity of Ukraine are unconditional. Our precedence must now be to strengthen Ukraine and to supply solid safety guarantees."
Some Ukrainian allies in another parts of Europe were more sincere in rejecting Trump's approach, especially his decision to make a peace plan straight with Putin.
“We have always stressed that there will be no decision on Ukraine without Ukraine,” the German abroad Minister told journalists Annalena Baerbock. “Peace can only be achieved together. This means: with Ukraine and with Europeans".
In an interview with POLITICO, Latvian abroad Minister Baiba Braze said: "The Ukrainian agency in any peace talks is highly important".
Key for the full continent
Polish abroad Minister Radosław Sikorski stated that Ukraine needs more support military before you start talking to Putin. He added that Poland would strive unwaveringly to intensify military support for Kiev and that "the strengthening of Ukraine's possible before possible talks with Russia is crucial for our continent".
France besides disagrees with the American position, insisting that Ukraine remains on the road to joining NATO. Before Hegseth successfully ruled it out, at least as part of any safety warrant accompanying the peace agreement. He besides excluded the participation of US troops in any peacekeeping mission and said that NATO as an organization should not be active in it.
Saul Loeb / AFPDonald Trump, Washington, February 11, 2025.
"We are very attached to Ukraine's road to NATO. If peace comes, we request a safety warrant to make it fair and sustainable," said Jean-Noel Barrot, French abroad Minister. ‘Europe's safety is at stake in this war of aggression. — it has disrupted the order of the planet and means that we cannot return to the planet before the invasion.”
Greater aid and stronger sanctions
In his statement, Trump stated that the squad would immediately start talks with Putin's representatives. To the Secretary of State of the United States Marco Rubio Join CIA manager John Ratcliffe and National safety Advisor Michael Waltz as part of the American negotiating team. “I believe this effort will lead to a successful conclusion, hopefully soon!” Trump added.
Alexander Merezhko, Head of the Committee on abroad Relations in the Ukrainian Parliament, said Hegseth's comments were "illogical".
‘The fresh safety Secretary should simply start with arrival in Ukraine and to get to know Ukrainian armed forces," said Mereżko. "Ukraine can return its full territory, it is absolutely real. But for this to happen, more military-technical assistance from the United States is needed and stronger sanctions — in peculiar US financial sanctions against the Russian economy’.
British officials said they agreed that Europe should do more. "We can hear you," stated British defence Minister John Healey in consequence to Hegseth's comments. "When it comes to actions for Ukraine, we are and will be. In terms of strengthening European security, we are and will be."
