At the summit with Trump, Putin once again showed that he is a cunning and ruthless player, a European leader finds
Trump and Putin at a 2017 meeting. Photo: Mikhail Klimentyev / AFP / Profimedia
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk held on Saturday, after the summit in Alaska between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, that the latter once again demonstrated his cunning and that he became clear that Moscow respects only force.
In a post on the Social Network X, the Polish prime minister states that the match playing the future of Europe and Ukraine has now entered a “decisive phase”, reports EFE, quoted by Agerpres.
“Today it is even more obvious that Russia respects only the powerful and Putin has once again demonstrated that he is a cunning and ruthless player,” noted Donald Tusk, suggesting that the Russian president managed to defend his interests more skill than Trump.
“Therefore, it is crucial to maintain the unity of the whole West,” said the head of the Polish government.
Together with other European leaders, the latter published on Saturday a common statement that insists that in the case of a peace agreement with Russia be offered to Ukraine Western security guarantees and no limits for the Ukrainian army are imposed.
The same statement also reaffirms the request of Ukraine's European supporters so that it does not give up the territories of Russia and have the freedom to join NATO and the EU.
The joint statement was signed, in addition to the Polish prime minister, by the heads of state and government in Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy and Finland, by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von Der Leyen, and the president of the European Council, Antonio Costa.
European leaders consulted all morning and came up with a message after the Trump-Putin meeting / What they say is not negotiable
In the statement given to the press at the end of the Trump summit, President Putin asked the European supporters of Ukraine not to create obstacles and to “try to disturb the incipient progress through the challenges or intrigues.”
But in their reactions after the summit, some European leaders have asked to maintain the “pressure” on Russia, a formula found in the mentioned common statement. Moreover, the head of EU diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, said that “the community block will continue to support Ukraine, including by developing the 19th sanctions package” against Russia.
The day before the Alaska summit, Trump again warned Russia that he is exposed to “very serious consequences” if he does not agree to conclude the war, threatening it with new direct sanctions and sanctions imposed on his commercial partners through secondary customs taxes on Russian oil imports.
But after the meeting with Putin, in a statement given to the Fox News, the US president estimated that the mere cessation of fire is no longer a viable way to stop the war and that a peace agreement is needed. Trump also said that, at least for the next 2-3 weeks, he no longer takes into account new sanctions against Russia.
He will meet on Monday at the White House with Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski and announced that “if everything is going well,” a meeting with Putin will then be scheduled.
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