Donald Trump told the world he could end the war in Ukraine in just one day. But after a recent phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, many European leaders were left confused and worried.
The call between Trump and Putin lasted two hours. European leaders hoped the U.S. would push Russia to agree to a 30-day ceasefire. They also expected Trump to warn Putin about more sanctions if he refused.
Shortly after that call, Trump spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several top European leaders, including those from Germany, France, Italy, Finland, and the European Commission. During the call, Trump stated that Putin had only agreed to “discuss” a ceasefire, not actually to implement one. He also informed them that the United States would not be participating in the peace talks moving forward.
The leaders on the call didn’t know how to respond. For a few moments, the line went silent. Trump had promised bold action, but what he shared left many of them in shock. They were expecting leadership but got something very different.
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Zelensky then reminded Trump that Russia had already agreed to talk the week before in Istanbul. Trump gave no clear answer. He also didn’t say anything about using pressure or threats to make Putin stop the war. That silence raised even more questions.
Soon after the call, news broke that Trump had suggested letting the Pope take over the peace talks. Reports say he showed no interest in leading the efforts himself.
Speaking to reporters afterward, Trump made it clear that he didn’t think the war was his problem. He said the conflict in Ukraine would not have happened if he had been president from the start.
“This was not my war. This is not a war that would have happened if I were president,” Trump said. “Something’s going to happen. And if it doesn’t, I just back away, and they’re going to have to keep going again.”
Such a message can cause genuine concern. Walking away from talks doesn’t bring peace. It leaves a gap that others, such as Russia, may fill.
Trump told the other leaders that the war in Ukraine was a European issue. He said it should have stayed that way. However, that view overlooks many facts. The U.S. has already been deeply involved. Billions of dollars in aid have been sent to help Ukraine defend itself. American support has been a significant factor in Ukraine’s ability to hold out this long.
Now, with Trump pulling back, that support could disappear. If that happens, it might give Russia more power. Ukraine may be forced to accept unfair terms. And Europe could lose trust in U.S. leadership.
Putin, for his part, continues to repeat the same demands. He says the “root causes” of the war must be fixed first. What that means is forcing Ukraine to relinquish its independence and remain outside of Europe.
Featured image via Screengrab
