Trump Refuses Further Ukraine Aid, Eyes Dialog wiht Putin as European Leaders Seek to Avoid Imposed peace
Following meetings in Washington between NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, concerns are rising over the future of aid to Ukraine and the potential for a negotiated settlement. A key development is a recent meeting between Zelensky and former U.S.President Donald Trump, during which Trump reportedly refused to commit to supplying ukraine with Tomahawk missiles.
according to reconstructions by Axios, Trump delivered a “hard” refusal, stating, “I think we’re done.Let’s see what happens next week,” alluding to a planned conversation with vladimir Putin in Budapest.Zelensky,in briefings to European leaders,framed the U.S. position as a reluctance to escalate the conflict, while on NBC he described Trump’s response as ”positive” for not being a definitive rejection.
European leaders emphasized transatlantic cooperation and reiterated their commitment to a “just and lasting peace for Ukraine,” as stated by European Council President antonio Costa, in the face of continued Russian aggression – including recent attacks on Zaporizhzhia. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk affirmed that European solidarity is “more necessary today than ever.”
the situation is further elaborate by differing perspectives within Europe. Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini views dialogue with Putin as “the path to détente” and lauded Trump’s decision not to supply missiles as “courageous” and “bringing peace closer,” expressing hope that other European capitals will reduce their arms production and sales.
Security guarantees for Ukraine remain a central issue, with NATO national security advisors recently meeting to coordinate future steps. EU leaders are currently preparing for a summit in Brussels on October 23rd, were Zelensky is expected to participate.
A politically sensitive issue facing the EU is the potential need to grant temporary exemptions to the closure of European airspace to Russian flights to allow Putin to travel to Hungary, where he is scheduled to meet with Trump. Despite an international arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, several neighboring countries are reportedly inclined to allow Putin’s passage to avoid the formation of a perceived “Washington-Budapest-Moscow axis.” Brussels clarified that the EU travel ban does not apply directly to Putin, but the airspace blockade for Russian aircraft “formally remains in force.”
The EU is also preparing a nineteenth package of sanctions against Moscow, with Austria having withdrawn its veto - previously linked to compensation for Raiffeisen Bank impacted by Russian counter-sanctions. Remaining reservations from Slovakia regarding energy concerns still need to be addressed. The sanctions, Brussels stated, prevent “no flight operated by public or private Russian companies [from landing, taking off or flying] over the skies of the Union.”
(Source: ANSA)
