Article originally in the Financial Times. Other articles .
The ultimatum of Donald Trump Kiev to adopt a peace agreement, which also includes the United States to recognize the sovereignty of Russia over Crimea, is a mockery of alleged negotiations of Washington to end Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Trump’s pre -election claim that it can conclude a peace agreement in 24 hours was incredible. Like incompetence and cynicism of his government, which is trying to achieve a peace agreement at all costs.
Now Trump and his officials are threatening to withdraw from negotiations if Ukraine does not accept the conditions that have been written without its participation. Trump’s remark from Wednesday that he thought he had an agreement with Vladimir Putin, but now he has to conclude it with Volodymyr Zelensky, he tells many. They have never been proper three -sided negotiations.
Trump took the Ukraine cards
Trump claims that Greeding has no cards he could play. In fact, Trump took the cards to Ukraine and handed them over to Russia. For amateur or naivety, US officials have given up an important advantage before the start of negotiations.
They also excluded the membership of Ukraine in NATO and the prospects for the renewal of the occupied areas. Trump’s newcomer, a special envoy Steve Witkoff, could be tempted by the flatters of the Kremlin and did not present his arguments about the causes of the war.
Moscow is staying negotiations and refused for six weeks to call the United States for an unconditional ceasefire, but Washington did not put any pressure. Trump described the deadly missile attack of Russia on Kiev on Thursday as “unnecessary and very inappropriate”. This is the most as it has come close to the condemnation of Moscow.
Ukraine, on the other hand, faces threats and pressure, including the suspension of weapons supply and sharing of news information. She was also falsely accused of commencing war. The United States forced it to sign it to signing a framework agreement on mineral mining as a retribution for previous aid.
Trump’s political epitaph
Instead of negotiating a righteous peace for Ukraine and forced Russia to sign it, Trump did the opposite. Maybe it has always been his intention, either because he believes in Russian lies, or because his worldview, according to which he was stronger, coincides with Putin. However it is, Trump’s treatment of Ukraine will have a response around the world.
If the United States recognized Russia’s sovereignty over Crimea, which is the result of the first violent annexation of the territory in Europe since 1945, it would not only encourage Putin to other claims in Ukraine and other former Soviet states, but would give courage to tyrannus in other parts of the world to violate borders. China, who has sight on Taiwan, will take it to his heart.
The fact that Trump has retreated to Putin on Crimea is particularly outrageous because formal recognition was not a Russian condition of the agreement before. Insist on what is a red line for Kiev there is a risk of negotiations. So far, everything suggests that Trump would then accuse Ukraine, stop help and abolish sanctions, thus throwing Europe into chaos. The winner would be Moscow.
Some will argue that Ukraine should adapt to reality and agree to Trump’s thrust with Crimea. It is not desirable from her to recognize Russian sovereignty, and without American air defense and intelligence services. However, this aid is no longer guaranteed – all the more Europe must speed up the efforts to replace these capacities. Ukraine is rightly worried that false peace will allow Putin to complete what it started.
“You had a choice between war and shame. You chose a shame and you will have a war.” Historians do not coincide whether Winston Churchill really said these words Neville Chamberlain in connection with the Munich Agreement with Nazi Germany of 1938. However, there is a risk of becoming Trump’s political epitaph if Kiev and his European allies cannot convince the course.
© The Financial Times Limited 2025. All rights reserved. It must not be further spread, copied or modified. Ringier Slovakia Media is responsible for providing this translation. The Financial Times Limited is not responsible for the accuracy or quality of the translation.
