The Guardian view on Trump and Putin: Ukraine’s future is not theirs to bargain away
Russia wants America and China to decide Ukraine’s future without Kyiv. Europe must challenge this dangerous return to diplomacy of the strong for the strong
TL;DR
- Vladimir Putin may be attempting to influence Donald Trump by offering deals related to Ukraine's future and potentially lowering U.S. diesel prices.
- A proposed summit involving Trump, Putin, and Xi Jinping, excluding Ukraine, would grant Putin a diplomatic victory and disregard Ukraine's right to self-determination.
- Such a deal could violate U.S. law regarding Russian energy imports and signal a weakening of U.S. commitment to European security and NATO.
- European governments need to prepare for increased self-reliance in defense as U.S. policy under Trump raises doubts about its commitment to its allies.
- The historical parallel of the Three Emperors' League suggests that agreements between powerful rulers do not guarantee lasting settlements and can lead to instability.