President Donald Trump has left Washington’s European allies reeling with shock and disbelief as he moved with a turbo-charged speed to thrash out a peace deal with Russian counterpart, President Vladimir Putin.
After a 90-minute phone call with President Vladimir Putin, President Trump left many of his European allies taken aback when he declared that the “peace talks have started” without their involvement.
President Trump also said he believes that Ukraine’s NATO membership is unlikely. The Kremlin has repeatedly blamed NATO’s expansion eastward as a redline that triggered the war in Ukraine.
As Europe was trying to figure out how President Trump could strike a deal with his Russian counterpart without the involvement of Kiev, the White House gave assurance that Ukraine will have a seat at the round-table.
President Trump also revealed that face-to-face talks with President Putin will take place in the near future. The host country is likely to be Saudi Arabia, which has cordial relations with both Washington and Moscow.
The Ukraine conflict started in February 2022 when Russia launched a Special Military Operation. The West described the operation as an “invasion”, and a threat to the sovereignty of Ukraine.
NATO and the Biden administration had vowed to support Kiev “for as long as it takes”. They pumped money into the coffers of Kiev, with President Biden putting the figure at $350 billion.
President Trump assumed office on January 20 and is already turning international relations upside down. With or without NATO, the peace talks with the Russian President are underway and unstoppable.
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