Ukraine and European leaders agreed on Saturday to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire from 12 May with the backing of US president Donald Trump, threatening president Vladimir Putin with new “massive” sanctions if he failed to comply.
The announcement was made by the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Poland and Ukraine after a meeting in Kyiv, during which they held a phone call with Trump.
It is so pathetic… I thought Russia was in maximum sanctions for 2 yrs already! These “leaders” do know better though, they just generate these acts with the hope something will get posted on their heavily subsidized media (it has been a decade since any publication can survive without being subsidized).
Russia is desperate to move one, Ukraine still in their delusion, but coming to terms with the reality, US wants to move on and the EU (north only) wondering how to maintain the war flame alive for 4 yrs and hope for a new Biden in 4 yrs. It won´t happen, here, in the US, people are increasingly getting tired of the billions spend abroad even in Israel, let alone in Ukraine (even though it most of that aid is in US weapons and services that Ukraine pays with the funds the EU gives). But yes, Macron does care that Russian-speaking in Donesk that for 11yrs have been disposed of all representation, cut from all social services and bombed daily will rejoin Kyiv like nothing happended.
Could you elaborate?
Countries like Baltic countries, Germany, Scandinavians and France (their leaders at least) are probably wondering if to simmer the drums till next US election, go all in themselves or change course with the head high. Europeans, rightly so, are not buying it and will not join any armed group even if constricted… and those leaders know it… so the dillenma is either to wait or how to get out. With Trump back, I was hoping, European leaders, in their highly antagonism to Trump, would reverse course, at least with Gaza… but not so… if Trump, does indeed reverse course… my gosh… The EU will be insignificant and a pariah in the global stage for decades to come.
As someone who publicly predicted Trump’s wins in both 2016 and 2024 (I live in the most representative county there is!) I can tell you Americans are fed up with war expenditures abroad (even they do benefit the US in the short run!). Specially with the Ukrainian so, even if a Democrat would win in 2028, he/she would not pull off tens of billions on aid to any country… that, it is going likely to be a heavy issue in next elections and even demand a commitment no for massive aid packagers. I think they will even include Israel in the restrictions.
I don’t think you have a good read on Europeans at least. public sentiment is quite different in different countries, with people in countries closer to Russia being willing to go much further to oppose Russia.
while the average Dutchman probably wouldn’t want to fight for their own country, let alone another one, I don’t doubt that people in e.g. Poland, the Baltic states or Finland are much more aware of the danger to themselves and their country and more willing to make personal sacrifices.