European leaders are expressing concern over Donald Trump’s recent efforts to broker a peace deal in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. The former U.S. President has suggested that Ukraine could have avoided the war by making concessions to Russia, a stance that has raised eyebrows across Europe. Trump’s assertion that even a "half-baked" negotiator could have reached an agreement years ago without significant territorial loss has sparked debate and unease among European officials.
Trump remains optimistic about his ability to secure a settlement, stating he is "much more confident" following what he described as "very good" talks between U.S. and Russian representatives. He also floated the idea of deploying European peacekeepers in Ukraine should a deal be struck, emphasizing that the U.S., due to its geographical distance, would not need to contribute to these efforts.
“That’s not a Russian thing, that’s something coming from me, from other countries” – Donald Trump
While Trump aims to achieve "peace" to put an end to the largest land war in Europe since World War II, his approach has drawn criticism. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the exclusion of Kyiv from the U.S.-Russia talks, arguing that any effort to end the war must be fair and involve European countries.
“I’m president of Ukraine because 73% of people voted for me. And today I’m president because the majority in my country support me. I’m a patriot, just like the people defending our country” – Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Zelenskyy's concerns are shared by European officials who have urged the U.S. not to align too closely with Moscow. They worry that Trump's negotiations may grant Russia undue concessions, potentially compromising Ukraine's sovereignty and future security. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has already stated that Russia will not accept NATO peacekeeping forces in Ukraine under any peace deal.
“Sounds like Trump bought Putin’s propaganda hook, line, and sinker” – Sean Savett
Further complicating matters, Trump hinted at a potential meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin before the end of the month. This meeting could be pivotal, as it may influence the dynamics of the ongoing negotiations. However, Trump’s remarks suggesting that Russia might attempt to divide the U.S. and Europe have added another layer of tension to the situation.
“Well, you’ve been there for three years… You should have never started it. You could have made a deal” – Donald Trump
Despite criticisms, Trump remains steadfast in his belief that peace is achievable. He expressed disappointment at hearing that Kyiv is upset about not having a seat at the negotiation table.
“I’m very disappointed, I hear that they’re upset about not having a seat” – Donald Trump
The talks between Russia and the U.S., which are reportedly progressing with an inaugural meeting likely to occur in Saudi Arabia, have caused further discord. Zelenskyy’s popularity, which he defends as being supported by 73% of the Ukrainian population, stands in stark contrast to Trump's claims about Ukraine’s precarious political situation.
“We have a situation where we haven’t had elections in Ukraine, where we have essentially martial law in Ukraine, where the leader in Ukraine – I mean, I hate to say it, but he’s down at 4% approval rating – and where a country has been blown to smithereens. Most of the cities are laying on their sides. The buildings are collapsed. It looks like a massive demolition site” – Donald Trump
European leaders continue to advocate for a united front against Russian aggression, urging caution against any agreement that might undermine regional stability or embolden Moscow.