European allies of Ukraine are cautiously optimistic that the elected U.S. President Donald Trump will not pressure Kyiv into premature negotiations with Russia.
As noted by Bloomberg, this recognition stems from a series of private discussions with members of Trump's team, during which transatlantic partners emphasized the importance of continued support for Ukraine.
European politicians hope that Trump might employ both diplomatic channels and deterrence strategies to ensure ongoing support for Ukraine. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni underscored that the only way to compel Russia to come to the negotiating table is to create challenging conditions for it on the battlefield. Meloni also pointed out that Trump has the capability to combine diplomacy with economic pressure.
Despite the fact that Trump has yet to finalize his stance on Ukraine, his team is aware of the potential consequences of failure in this confrontation, particularly when considering the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Therefore, as European officials highlight, the issue of security guarantees for Ukraine must remain on the negotiating table.
Ukrainian and European officials note that, although planners in Trump's team are proposing several ideas, there is currently no actionable plan for Ukraine that could be implemented after the inauguration on January 20.
"However, these discussions have sparked a sense of cautious relief in European capitals. EU officials have been calculating the worst-case scenarios in the event that Trump fulfills his promise to swiftly end the war – potentially reaching an agreement that sidelines Kyiv and strengthens Vladimir Putin," Bloomberg writes.
Source: bloomberg.