Trump's prospective Ukraine policy sparks cautious optimism among European leaders

Amid speculation over Donald Trump’s potential return to the presidency, European leaders are cautiously optimistic about his approach to the Ukraine conflict, despite lingering concerns about a possible deal on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s terms.

“Trump wants to solve it but not at any cost,” a senior European official said, emphasizing that any resolution “cannot be a capitulation of Ukraine” akin to the perceived debacle in Afghanistan during his previous term, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

A potential policy under Trump could include security guarantees for Ukraine, though falling short of NATO membership. Discussions in his circle suggest a commitment to re-engage militarily should Russia violate any agreement. Analysts note this could counter Moscow’s earlier violations of the Minsk agreements of 2014 and 2015.

Other measures, such as emphasizing Ukraine’s path to EU membership and pressuring Russia through economic tools like increased American oil production, are reportedly under consideration.

However, the landscape remains precarious. The Biden administration’s recent approval of long-range missile use by Ukraine has escalated tensions, prompting Russia’s first firing of an ICBM at Ukraine since its full-scale invasion began. Despite this, the allies are rallying around a “peace through strength” strategy to pressure Moscow.

Europe acknowledges Trump’s prior influence on their increased defense spending and his new appointments, including Marco Rubio as a prospective secretary of state, have drawn less criticism than expected. Some officials now cautiously explore whether his pragmatic focus might provide a pathway to end the war.

The future remains uncertain, with questions over China’s role, sanctions, and Russia’s willingness to negotiate. Still, European leaders see a glimmer of hope in breaking the diplomatic deadlock.

By Vugar Khalilov