In the world of globalized diplomatic relations, it is no surprise that governments of third countries participate, even organize, conversations for the achievement of peace between two nations in conflict. It has always passed. The dialogue regarding the end of the war in Ukraine, however, is curious. Saudi Arabia hosted on Tuesday the first meeting between the United States and Russia aimed at looking for a solution that satisfies all parties. But without the main part, Ukraine, nor the participation of Europe, whose leaders will meet again this Wednesday to discuss what a position to take with respect to Ukraine, as Macron reported late on Tuesday. All this, in addition, after Donald Trump’s administration has made it clear that his support for Ukraine, or the subsequent security of Europe is no longer a priority for the United States. In addition to ending war, conversations also hide other interests, such as that of the United States for the Rare Ukraine or Putin land for the demilitarization of Ukraine, insisting that it should not enter NATO, something that Trump accepts.
Bilateral conversations have caused stupor these days in European leaders, who gathered at an extraordinary informal summit just one day before the meeting in Riad between the United States and Russia. Europe, which has several times to initiate negotiations with Russia based on its claims, now seeks to be part of something that occurs between its borders. But, for now, without the ability to assert. This Monday, the president of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, asked, in fact, to his European companions to stop underestimating. “Europe is a strong political project, which represents the world’s first commercial block, and together we represent the world’s first economy. We can continue enlarging and widening that great project, ”said Sánchez.
But, of course, it weighs having depended so much on the United States in recent years. Donald Trump has warned that he would do this kind of thing since before being president and, however, the reaction is late. A recent analysis of The New York Times Thus described the meeting held on Monday in Paris: “The lament gave way to a hasty acceptance of a new world in which the most powerful ally in Europe has begun to behave more as an adversary. President Trump’s plan to negotiate a peace agreement in Ukraine with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, without inviting Ukrainians or Europeans to participate, has forced the stunned leaders in capitals such as Berlin, London and Paris to face a Series of difficult decisions, painful dilemma and expensive loads. ”
While the United States and Russia profile the bases for an agreement that brings peace to a country that is not yours, Europe discusses from the stands the following steps. This same Monday, Sánchez made it clear that the meeting organized by the French president, Emmanuel Macron, was not to make decisions, but to reflect or share ideas and opinions. European leaders try to relieve bewilderment while Trump and Putin litigan, for example, about whether Ukraine must enter the EU, in NATO or allow the exploitation of their rare earths. Almost as a plea, this Tuesday Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, met with Donald Trump’s envoy for Ukraine, General Keith Kellog. “We want to collaborate with the United States to achieve fair and lasting peace in Ukraine,” he said.
The rare earth is not less. In a world like the current one, it does not produce surprise to verify that those who seek peace do not always do it with the sole objective of peace itself. The first member of the US government that was seen with the Ukrainian president, Volodimir Zelenski, was the secretary of the Treasury, Scott Besent, on February 12. Because? The United States wants to exploit Ukrainian lands with critical minerals for the powerful technology industry. “The American people deserve to be rewarded, deserve a return for the billions they have invested in this war,” Mike Waltz, National Security Minister of the White House, in statements collected by The country.
If the United States wants the wealth that these lands house, Russia wants to annex at least five Ukrainian regions that are already under its total or partial control, a certain demilitarization of the country and that Ukraine does not enter to be part of NATO. Putin came to excuse Ukraine’s invasion with this argument. The entrance of Ukraine into NATO during the war was barely discussed. Despite the requests of Zelenski, that Ukraine entered NATO would mean that the conflict would enter a global scale. Member countries assembled and militarily supported kyiv, but without introducing troops into the territory. But could Ukraine enter NATO with the peace agreement? For Putin it is a red line, because it would mean the Western military organization even closer to its borders. And the United States accepts it. His Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegesh, said a few days ago that he does not seem “realistic” to think of “the Ukraine membership in NATO.” And insisted that Europe’s security depends, now, only and exclusively on Europe. “To be clear,” he said, “as part of any security guarantee, there will be no US troops deployed in Ukraine.”
The first step for probable peace in Ukraine is given, but the road is long, so much that the end is not attached. Zelenski has already made it clear that he will not accept any agreement that does not have his participation. European leaders increase pressure to have not only voice but also vote in dialogues. Be that as it may, for now, and as they remembered in Politico This Tuesday, “shortly after finishing the conversations in Riyadh, an air attack alert began in kyiv, where local authorities announced the threat of Russian ballistic missiles.”
