Why the Trump-Putin negotiations on Ukraine might bury the east Partnership

Since 2009 the main EU instrument of engaging and integrating with the region of east Europe has been the east Partnership programme. However, Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the evolving geopolitical situation have forced the EU to rethink its approach towards the aspiring states in the region. The fresh administration in the United States has added a fresh dimension to this complex dynamic. Where do these states stand in their bid for EU membership today?

With Donald Trump's return to the White House, the geopolitical dynamics surrounding the war in Ukraine have undergone crucial shifts. Trump's rhetoric emphasizes the necessity of ending the war, whereas Ukraine’s priorities are not limited to the cessation of hostilities but besides include the terms under which the conflict concludes, i.e. the provision of safety guarantees.