Defense expert Ko Colijn has been providing the Dutch for fifty years of interpretation with armed conflicts. This time he discusses the meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska. That meeting made it painfully clear how powerless Ukraine and Europe are.
The meeting in Alaska has yielded little more than the physical conversation between US President Trump and Russian President Putin. It became a painful misunderstanding between Trump’s ignorance and the unwillingness of Putin. The belief that you can solve world problems with a deal or by violence was still hopeless. This has issued the signal that both leaders believe that they can speak over the heads of others, stakeholders.
President VolodyMyr Zensky was already made clear in the Oval Office at the end of February that he has no cards to play and keep his mouth shut. For the stage they then made up for it a bit, but actually Trump had already served the Ukrainian president. Only Trumps growing frustration with Putin gave Zelensky some room for play (read: patriot rockets).
The powerlessness of Europe has only become clearer and more painful. Yes, we take some money out for weapons that are the greenhouse of American armor makers and then passed on to Kyiv. But we cannot be very proud of our geopolitical strength. Europe was in no fields or roads in Alaska.
Western leaders were delighted that Trump was rather anti-Putin on Wednesday. He then even promised a follow -up interview that Zelensky could be in. But here too: first see then believe. Europe also does not have the cards and Putin will think about it the same.
Trump determines what ‘fair’ is
Trump had made it clear on Monday that he should not complain about the Ukrainian constitution that would prohibit him from giving up land. And Trump had promised that he would present an “honest” result of the conversation in Alaska to Zensky and the other Europeans. What an honest result is, the American president apparently matters.
After European sputtering, Trump weakened his meeting with Putin slightly. That may also be because his envoy Steve Witkoff only understood what Putin had actually suggested: an honest withdrawal of the Russians from pieces conquered such as Ukraine did. The reality is different, because the Russians want large pieces from the Donbas and Kherson that they have not yet taken on the battlefield. On balance it would yield them around 9,000 square kilometers of free territory.
Trump goes far to give Putin his way
Further large Russian requirements are that this site gain will be officially recognized, Ukraine will never become a NATO member, zensky scratches, Ukraine no longer gets weapons aid and the sanctions against Russia will fall. That’s quite a bit. Let’s run that list.
NATO boss Mark Rutte already took an advance by admitting that the areas can be recognized for the time being. Ukraine could then continue to claim it. You could still imagine that Ukraine and Russia still conclude an agreement about the Crimea and the nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia, but violent conquests are never allowed. Although Trump apparently makes little difference, since he himself thinks he can be openly entitled to Greenland.
The Ukrainian NATO membership has also given Trump away. At the NATO summit in The Hague that has been hidden, so Ukraine can forget this. The chance that Zensky will sacrifice is present. Then there will be a more pro-Russian candidate, because I don’t see Zensky or a like-minded person with Putin in the sauna for crisis consultation.
The military support from the West for Ukraine would have a chance of success. But the European countries now understand that they can invest a lot of money in Ukraine for their deterrence than in their own home. For some weapons, such as drones, the Ukrainian house flation has already turned out to be better than the average Western technology.
Trump is prepared to much, so why not remove sanctions against Russia? He sets Putin an ultimatum, but finds it more important to go into the history books as a peace president. Last week, for example, in exchange for hundreds of millions of dollars chip manufacturer Nvidia, he gave permission to act with China. For men like Trump, the world ultimately remains a marketplace.
Defense expert Ko Colijn Has Been Providing the Dutch With Explanations of Armed Conflicts for Fifty Years. This time, he discusses the meeting Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska. That meeting Made Painully Clear How Powerless Ukraine and Europe are.
The Meeting in Alaska Yielded Little More than the Physical Conversation between Us President Trump and Russian President Putin. It Became a Painful Misunderstanding between Trump’s Ignorance and Putin’s unwillingness. The belief that you can solve world problems with a deal or with violence still proved hopeless. This Sent the Signal That Both Leaders Believe They Can Speak Over The Heads Of Others, Even Stakeholders.
President Volodymyr Zensky was Already Made Clear in the Oval Office at the End of February That he has no cards to play and should keep his mouth shut. For show, they made up for it a little bit afterwards, but actual trump had already dismissed the ukrainian president at that point. Only Trump’s growing frustration with putin cool zensky some room to maneuver (read: patriot missiles).
Europe’s Powerlessness Has Only Become Clearer and More Painful. Yes, we are extracting some money for weapons that fill the Coffers of American arms manufacturers and are passed on to kyiv. But we cannot be very proud or our geopolitical power. Europe was nowhere to be seen in Alaska.
Western Leaders were delighted that Trump was QUITE anti-Putin on Wednesday. Hey promised a follow-up meeting that zensky would be allowed to attend. But here too, seeing is believing. Europe also does not have the cards and putin will think the same.
Trump Decides What is ‘Fair’
Trump had made it clear to zensky again on Monday that he should not complain about the ukrainian constitution, which would prohibit him from cding land. And Trump had Promised that would be present a “fair” result of the conversation in Alaska to Zelensky and the Other Europeans. Apparently, The American President Decides Exactly What A Fair Result is.
However, After European Spluttering, Trump Weakened His meeting with Putin Somewhat. This may also be because enchant steve witkoff only half understood what putin had actual proposed: a fair withdrawal of the russians from pieces of conquered territory if ukraine did the same. The reality is different, because the russians want large parts of the donbas and kherson that they have not yet captured on the battlefield. This would give them a just or approximately 9,000 square kilometers or free territory.
Trump Goes Far to Give Putin His Way
Further Major Russian Demands are that territorial gain be official recognized, ukraine will never Become a Nato Member, Zensky Will be fired, Ukraine Will No Longer Receive Arms Aid and the Sanctions Against Russia Will be Lifted. That’s QUITE Something. Let’s go through that list.
Nato Chief Mark Rutte Already Tok a Step in Advance by Admitting That The Areas Could Be Recognized for the Time Being. Ukraine Could Still Lay Claim to It. You Could Imagine That Ukraine and Russia Could Still Conclude An Araelement on Crimea and the Nuclear Power Plant in Zaporizhzhia, But Violent Conquests Should Never Happen. AltheHOUB Trump Apparently Doesn’t Care Much, Since He himself Openly Thinks He can Claim Greenland, Among Other Things.
Trump has also Given Away Ukrainian Nato Membership. This was swept under the rug at the nato summit in the Hague, so ukraine can forget about this. There is a Chann that Zensky Will Sacrifice himself. Then there will be a more pro-Russian candidate, because I don’t see Zensky or Someone Like Him Crawling Into The Sauna with Putin for Crisis Consultations So Quickly.
Scaling Back Military Support from the West for Ukraine would have a Chance of Success. But European Countries Now Understand That they can Better Invest A Lot Of Money in Ukraine for Their Deterrence Than In Their Own Country. For some weapons, such as drones, ukrainian craftsmanship has already proven to be better than Average Western Technology.
Trump is willing to do a lot, so why not lift the sanctions against russia too? He Gives Putin an Ultimatum, But Finds It More Important To Go Down In The History Books As A Peace President. For example, last week the cool chip manufacturer nvidia permission to trade with china in Exchange for Hundreds of Millions of Dollars. For Men Like Trump, The World Ultimately Remains a Marketplace.