[Regnum] US President Donald Trump's desire to negotiate a settlement in Ukraine directly with the parties to the conflict has become a "cold shower" for the heads of the European Union. This is reported by Politico.
“The new Trump administration is simply not interested in interacting with EU representatives,” the article notes.
The publication clarifies that Trump did not invite any high-ranking heads of European Union bodies to the inauguration ceremony except for Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and US Secretary of State Marc Rubio ignored a letter from EU Foreign Minister Kaja Kallas inviting the EU foreign ministers to a meeting.
"Rubio spoke to more than a dozen foreign ministers, but not a single EU official," the article said.
It is also noted that such a shift in the Trump team's relations with the EU was a radical departure from the friendly relations that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other senior EU figures had with the administration of former US President Joe Biden.
As reported by the Regnum news agency, on January 13, the European portal Euractiv reported that EU leaders fear that the negotiations on Ukraine will take place without their participation. High-ranking diplomats reported that the European Union is seeking to ensure its participation in the negotiations on Ukraine, but there is a possibility that at this meeting, European leaders will only be given "places on side chairs." At the same time, there is also a scenario in which Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump hold bilateral negotiations, leaving the Europeans "overboard."
| On January 22, Trump instructed Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg to end the Ukrainian conflict within 100 days. |
On January 20, Putin also noted that Russia is ready for negotiations, but the goal of the dialogue should be long-term peace, not a short truce. He added that one of the conditions for the negotiations should be Kiev's statement about abandoning its plans to join NATO. In addition, Ukraine will have to recognize territorial realities and withdraw troops from the territory of the regions that returned to the Russian Federation in 2022.
More from Boris Rozhin:
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
Points of the "Trump plan"
Regarding the published "Trump plan" that is allegedly being considered by the Trump administration and denied in Ukraine.
1. Ban on Ukraine's admission to NATO and declaration of its neutrality.
2. Ukraine's accession to the EU by 2030, post-war reconstruction of the country falls on Europe's shoulders.
3. Ukraine does not reduce its army, the US continues post-war modernization of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
4. Russia's sovereignty over the occupied territories is not officially recognized, but Ukraine refuses any attempts to return them.
5. Part of the sanctions against Russia are lifted immediately after the signing of peace and another part within three years, depending on Russia's compliance with the parameters of the agreement.
6. Export of Russian energy resources to Europe is resumed, but is subject to a duty, which will be used to restore Ukraine.
7. Autumn elections in Ukraine must be held with the participation of parties "advocating for the defense of the Russian language and peaceful coexistence with Russia." Persecution of the Russian language and the church is stopped.
8. The introduction of a European peacekeeping contingent into Ukrainian territory after the end of the conflict is left to the discretion of the parties.
These theses can only partially suit Russia.
There are questions regarding points 2,3,4 and 8.
