Several European leaders have given phones to the Trump administration to understand the requirements of Putin before the Alaska summit. On three occasions, Europe received a different answer
Photo: Kyle Mazza / Nurphoto / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia
Faced with the US contradictions, Europe wants a clear discussion with American officials, to understand what will be the stake of the Alsska summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, writes Rador, which cites the Belgian publication at Libre Belgique.
Just a few hours after Donald Trump's emissary Steve Witkoff met with Vladimir Putin in Kremlin, Volodimir Zelenski, as well as a small group of European leaders, received a phone from the US President, as “Wall Street Journal.”
During this conversation, Trump revealed to his interlocutors the most recent proposal to try to make peace in Ukraine: Russia could withdraw from the regions of Zaporojie and Herson if Ukraine gives up full control over Donet.
One day later, on Thursday, Steve Witkoff, however, retracted these statements during another conversation with several European leaders. According to the emissary, Russia now wants to freeze the front line at the current level.
Faced with the contradictions on display by the American administration, Europe immediately asked for a third phone call with the United States this Friday, to try to clarify this issue in relation to future negotiations.
Unfortunately, here, Steve Witkoff's statements seem to have changed, as WSJ reported: The only valid proposal now visa with Ukraine's unilateral withdrawal in the Donetsk region, in exchange for an armistice. A proposal immediately rejected by Zelenski.
This is unacceptable for the few European leaders involved in these calls, who have decided to formulate a counter -proposal: only with a cessation of fire will be possible to negotiate.
To achieve this, the concessions must be similar, both the Russian and the Ukrainian side: “Any territorial concession must be accompanied by solid security guarantees, including the possible accession of Ukraine to NATO,” they said.
Although Zelenski does not seem to be convinced of proposals at this time, one thing is clear: Europe and Ukraine cannot be left outside these future negotiations, in which Trump and Putin seem to advance alone, notes the Belgian publication.
