Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he had a “long and very productive telephone call” with Vladimir Putin. That's good news for the Kremlin..
Keith Kellogg, a peculiar envoy of the U.S. president for Russia and Ukraine wants to study on the state of negotiations at the Munich safety Conference this weekend. ‘We have a real chance to end the war here.“ He says.
Trump pursues 3 objectives. A fast end to Russia's war in Ukraine The beginning of a large game and changes we haven't seen in decades.
Donald Trump announced that he had a long conversation with Putin on the telephone to negociate Ukraine's future. "We agreed that we would work very closely together and besides visit each other's countries" – that is the conclusion. The president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenski was only “informed” in a later telephone conversation, as Trump himself put it. Europe is besides weakened.
Blick answers the most crucial questions about Ukraine.
What did the U.S. Secretary of defence Hegseth say?
US Secretary of defence Pete Hegseth spoke at a gathering on Ukraine in Brussels. He confirmed the grim feeling of Ukrainians and Europeans.
Returning to Ukrainian borders before 2014 is unrealistic. "The pursuit of this illusory goal will only prolong the war and origin more suffering," he said.
Hegseth besides ruled out Ukraine's accession to NATO. "The United States does not believe that Ukraine's membership of NATO is simply a realistic consequence of a negotiated solution," stressed the Secretary of Defence.
What did Trump say?
Donald Trump admitted that on Wednesday he had a “long and very productive telephone conversation” with Russian president Vladimir Putin. They wanted to start talking immediately to end the war in Ukraine.
“I believe that these efforts will succeed, hopefully soon!” wrote Trump on fact Social. "We want to halt millions of deaths of war".
Are champagne corks fired on the Kremlin?
Yes, due to the fact that Russia could accomplish at least part of its war goals. Russia presently controls about 20% of Ukraine's territory in the south and east of the country. These areas are rich in natural materials and industrialized — so they can be valuable to Putin. As of 2014, Russia has besides occupied the Crimea Peninsula in the Black Sea.
Russia has always demanded that Ukraine should not join NATO. The Kremlin could besides win here.
Moreover, the Russian president, who since the outbreak of the war has been persona non grata in the Western world, has been invited to the US by the American president. So alternatively of threatening arrest and global ostracism, Putin can shortly enjoy a very warm reception.
Is Zelenski a loser?
Zelenski achieved many successes in defence of Ukraine. However, it is now improbable that he will accomplish the main goal he has long sought — to defend the full territory of Ukraine. Hegseth's pronouncements are so a bitter defeat for Ukraine, although this has for any time been established.
The fact that Ukraine will lose control of about 20% of its territory is practically inevitable, said military expert Ralph Thiele in a Blick interview a week ago. In the long term, Ukraine can hope to regain these territories — in the sense of unification after respective decades. In the short term, however, this is practically impossible. “ The substance is clear,” says Thiele. — A friend and an enemy will put a weapon to Zelenski’s breast.”
What do Americans want?
Donald Trump seeks to accomplish 3 goals in this fast room. Firstly, he wants to end the war in Ukraine quickly.
Secondly, he wants to shift the gravity point of the American defence apparatus from Europe to Asia. The US wants to focus more on securing its own borders and on conflicting with China's superpower.
Third, The US has long wanted to make European countries more liable for security. "The United States remains committed to NATO's alliance and defence partnership with Europe — without any buts," Hegseth stressed in Brussels. However, the US will no longer tolerate "unbalanced relations". Europeans would gotta invest much more in their defence — and they would most likely gotta supply Ukraine with a lion's share of military aid.
What does this mean for Europeans?
European safety experts have long warned against Russia's approval to conquer further areas in Ukraine — as this could at least partially "pay" Putin the war. It could besides stimulate the desire for further conquest. However, despite these concerns, Europeans were incapable or unwilling to equip the Ukrainian army in specified a way that it could dissuade the Russians from the country.
German military expert Carlo Masala spoke of the "loss situation" in the "Ronzheimer" podcast. "We will have negotiations above the heads of Ukraine and Europeans," Masala feared. "We will not be asked if we agree with the outcome."
Europe may gotta guarantee peace for itself. “If I were Putin, I would clap my hands,” Masala says.
What's next?
Trump's peculiar envoy to Ukraine, erstwhile General Keith Kellogg, wants to study on the state of the negotiations at the Munich safety Conference this weekend. ‘We have a real chance to end the war here.“ He said.
However, it is not yet certain that Trump will be able to finalise its agreement on Ukraine.
“ Tatiana Stanowoja, Russian expert in the think tank Carnegie Russia Eurasia Centre, says.
