Media: West secretly relieved by prospect of Trump ending Ukraine war

As the US election results settle in, there’s a growing sense of relief among some European leaders and officials in Kyiv at the prospect of President-elect Donald Trump bringing the war in Ukraine to a close.

Although Trump's approach may involve painful territorial concessions for Ukraine, including its neutrality and the continued annexation of Crimea and Donbas, it is seen as a way to extricate Western powers from a war they can no longer afford to win, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The West's unwavering promises to back Ukraine "for as long as it takes" have been under increasing scrutiny, particularly as elections in various nations approach and domestic pressures grow. The prospect of speedy NATO membership for Ukraine, frequently touted by Western leaders, was always more fantasy than reality, with or without Trump in office. The mantra that Western nations would provide steadfast support for Ukraine was also beginning to show cracks, especially as the war dragged on with no end in sight.

For many in Europe, the possibility of Trump leading the way to peace offers an unexpected but welcome exit strategy. If successful, Trump’s peace deal could provide European leaders with the alibi they need to explain away the broken promises made to Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would also be shielded from the likely backlash from soldiers and citizens angry over the concessions required to end the war.