Trump wants peace, and the EU wants to increase support for Ukraine. What the media say
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- Trump wants peace, and the EU wants to increase support for Ukraine. What the media say
US President-elect Donald Trump insists on a ceasefire and a diplomatic solution to the Ukrainian crisis, while EU hawks say it is necessary to increase support for Kiev. Meanwhile, against the background of the continuation of the conflict, the relations of Ukrainians with their neighbors are deteriorating. What the foreign press writes about it - in the Izvestia digest
Bloomberg: Trump said that Zelensky should prepare for a deal to end the conflict
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said Ukraine must reach an agreement to end the conflict and downplayed the value of the land lost by Kiev, noting that the cities have been destroyed and will take at least 110 years to rebuild. It's a signal that Trump may push for a settlement that would solidify Russia's territorial gains.
Bloomberg
Trump said it would take a century to rebuild Ukrainian cities destroyed in the conflict and dismissed Ukrainian hopes of regaining captured territory. He again criticized the use of U.S. weapons to strike targets deep inside Russian territory, a tactic used after the current White House approved it, raising the possibility that he will refuse to expand those powers if the fighting continues
These comments suggest that Trump will sharply reduce, if not completely end, aid to Ukraine. The president-elect also briefly touched on his meeting with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky (credentials expire in May 2024) in Paris. He noted that he did not invite Zelensky to his inauguration, despite inviting other world leaders.
The New York Times: Ukraine is unlikely to get an invitation to NATO, but there is an alternative
Zelensky probably won't get the coveted NATO membership because unanimity is required here, and at least seven NATO countries, including the United States, oppose it. The alternative is a pledge to protect Ukraine, but the U.S. and Europe are unlikely to sign such an agreement.
The New York Times
Another possible model - let's call it armed neutrality - would be the one Ukraine would least prefer. It would require Russia to promise not to attack Ukraine and Ukraine to renounce NATO membership and the stationing of foreign troops and weapons on its territory. Armed neutrality would make Ukraine more vulnerable than other solutions. It may also be the most achievable outcome. Putin said neutrality is necessary for "good neighborly relations"
In the case of armed neutrality, Ukraine should maximize its security and refuse to impose limits on the size of its army. If its battle-tested, experienced troops are made stronger and better equipped, Russia will have to reckon with a much stronger adversary.
Bloomberg: Europe needs to deliver promised aid to Ukraine as soon as possible
Russia is close to gaining control of the critical Pokrovsk mine, the loss of which would cost Ukraine half of its future steel production. Pokrovsk is an important transportation hub for supplying Ukraine's defense lines. Meanwhile, deliveries of military, financial and humanitarian aid from Europe have so far fallen short of promises.
Bloomberg
Ukrainian [defense] lines around Pokrovsk are slowly crumbling, and the commander of that part of the front has just been fired. Part of the blame lies with Zelensky, who postponed measures to strengthen conscription for political reasons. He and his generals should also take responsibility for sending some of their best troops to Russia's Kursk region. This was always a gamble because success required Putin to panic and move [to the border] forces advancing in Ukraine's Donbass to counter the threat at home. He did the opposite, increasing the tempo of his offensive in the Donbass, and the bet was lost
Amid Ukraine's problems in recruiting and retaining troops, there is a sense that arms and ammunition provided by the West are increasingly scarce. Denmark has led a Scandinavian project to contract arms to Ukrainian manufacturers because Kiev can produce much of what it needs to equip new battalions. To buy it, it doesn't have the money.
Politico: EU doesn't believe in prospects for peace and talks about increasing support for Kiev
EU diplomacy chief Kaja Kallas believes that Moscow is not signaling that it is looking for ways to end the conflict, and therefore it is too early to talk about sending peacekeepers to Ukraine. She called Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's interview with journalist Tucker Carlson proof that Russia "has not backed down from its goals". Also last week, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk rejected the idea of European peacekeepers in Ukraine.
Politico
Despite Tusk's rebuff, some EU capitals are starting to think about what to do if the Trump administration asks Europeans to play a military role in security guarantees for Ukraine. However, the discussion is only "at a conceptual level," said a European diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity
Some European leaders plan to discuss peace plans and the deployment of peacekeepers in Ukraine with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at a meeting in Brussels on Wednesday. Other EU foreign ministers have emphasized that the focus is on strengthening Ukraine rather than discussing peace terms.
Rzeczpospolita: Farmers' protests spoil relations between Ukrainians and Poles
Among Ukrainians 41% treat Poles well. Last year 67% gave this answer, two years ago - 83%. This was to be expected, because the "honeymoon" (in relations between the two nations - Ed.) is over. The one-sided position of the Ukrainian media, which perceive the protests of Polish farmers as anti-Ukrainian, has also played its role.
Rzeczpospolita
Although 34% of Ukrainians do not see serious problems in relations with Poland, more than half of them noted them. These included the border blockade and grain crisis (26%) and broader economic issues (summarizing similarity of markets, competition, especially in the agricultural sector - 3%; overall 29% of respondents paid attention to economic issues), Volyn (19%), Stepan Bandera and territorial disputes (6%; historical events account for a quarter of all responses), and poor treatment of Ukrainians and refugees (4%)
The number of respondents who think that Poland helps Ukraine because it "considers part of the land as its own" has increased to 20%. At the same time, the majority of Ukrainians are sure that Poles still consider Russia their enemy and feel threatened by it.
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