Trump and European leaders: Details of the heated talks over Ukraine
In a remarkable development reflecting the new directions of American foreign policy, US President Donald Trump revealed details of the talks he recently held with a number of prominent European leaders, confirming that he used very "sharp" and frank words during his discussions with them regarding the Ukrainian issue and developments in the conflict with Russia.
In a press statement from the White House on Wednesday, Trump explained that these talks included French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. These remarks highlight the pressure Washington is exerting on its European allies to adopt new approaches to dealing with the ongoing crisis.
American hesitation regarding the upcoming summit
In a related development, the US president indicated that European leaders had proposed holding an emergency, expanded meeting on Ukraine this weekend. Despite the event's significance, Trump expressed clear reservations, noting that he had not yet made a final decision regarding US participation in the summit.
Trump said in a businesslike tone: “Before going to any meeting, there are essential things we want to know and clarify first,” adding: “We will make a decision about this meeting soon, as we do not want to waste our time on discussions without tangible results,” which reflects the desire of the US administration to obtain clear guarantees or plans before engaging in new rounds of diplomacy.
Harsh criticism of Zelensky and his peace plan
Trump's harshness wasn't limited to European leaders; it also extended to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The US president repeatedly expressed his impatience with Kyiv, accusing Zelensky of not having "read" the American peace proposal aimed at ending the war carefully.
In a swift response to these criticisms, the Ukrainian government in Kyiv announced that it had delivered its updated version of the peace plan to the United States on Wednesday, in an attempt to bridge the gap in viewpoints and reach a compromise formula to end the bloody conflict with Russia.
Context of the transformation in transatlantic relations
These statements come at a time of comprehensive reassessment of transatlantic relations. Since his return to the political scene, Trump has pursued an "America First" policy that requires European allies to shoulder a greater burden in defense and regional security matters. Experts suggest that Trump's harsh rhetoric reflects Washington's desire to end the Ukrainian war quickly, even if it requires difficult concessions, a prospect that worries European capitals, which fear a decline in traditional American support.
Expected international repercussions
This hardline US stance has far-reaching international implications. On the one hand, it presents European leaders with a real test of their ability to maintain unity in supporting Ukraine without full US backing. On the other hand, this pressure may push both Moscow and Kyiv to the negotiating table sooner than expected, amid concerns that any future settlement might come at the expense of the geopolitical interests of some European parties.
