Here’s an important question: why does Donald Trump think he should decide Ukraine’s future?
The United States does not import significant amounts of either gas or farm produce from that country and could therefore be described as having little interest in Russia’s war there.
But Trump’s administration has announced that it is negotiating with Russia for a possible peace deal.
According to the BBC, there are
concerns the US is moving forward with Russia on peace talks that will lock out the continent.
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio plans to meet Russian officials in Saudi Arabia in the coming days, US officials say.
On Saturday the US special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, said European leaders would be consulted only and not take part in any talks between the US and Russia.
A senior Ukrainian government source told the BBC on Sunday that Kyiv has not been invited to talks between the US and Russia.
Trump earlier this week announced he had had a lengthy conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and that negotiations to stop the “ridiculous war” in Ukraine would begin “immediately”.
Trump then “informed” Zelensky of his plan.
Trump seems to think – as he seems to in most matters – that he is the best man for the job when it comes to negotiating peace.
He reckons that what has been described as his direct and unconventional style has enabled him to secure good deals in other international matters, and could be applied to managing Ukraine’s situation.
He has criticised previous US administrations, and even current international alliances, for mishandling foreign policy, claiming that a more assertive, “America First” approach could have redefined the balance of power and influenced Ukraine’s future more decisively.
He says traditional diplomatic channels sometimes lead to stalemates or prolonged conflicts – so by bypassing what he sees as bureaucratic inertia, he reckons a leader with his vision could make bolder decisions that might help shape regions like Ukraine.
These are his personal opinions – and they are highly controversial. Other experts and policymakers argue that such a unilateral approach to a complex international conflict could risk further destabilization and unintended consequences.
Keir Starmer appears to be one of them. He is attending a meeting of European leaders – who have been excluded from Trump’s talks – to discuss ways of ensuring that Ukraine’s own voice is heard.
Writing in the Telegraph, Sir Keir said “peace cannot come at any cost” and “Ukraine must be at the table in these negotiations, because anything less would accept Putin’s position that Ukraine is not a real nation”.
He has said he is willing to send UK troops to Ukraine, possibly as part of a pan-European peacekeeping force to stand between Ukrainian-held and Russian-held territory and deter Russia from further incursions into its neighbour’s land.
But there is a question over whether the UK currently has enough troops and equipment to manage that, being “run down”, in the words of former Army head Lord Dannatt, after years of under-funding by the Tories.
So the UK could end up putting troops it doesn’t have into a situation it doesn’t want, thereby upsetting its closest military ally, the USA.
This will be awkward.
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Why does Donald Trump think he should decide Ukraine’s future?
Here’s an important question: why does Donald Trump think he should decide Ukraine’s future?
The United States does not import significant amounts of either gas or farm produce from that country and could therefore be described as having little interest in Russia’s war there.
But Trump’s administration has announced that it is negotiating with Russia for a possible peace deal.
According to the BBC, there are
Buy Cruel Britannia in print here. Buy the Cruel Britannia ebook here. Or just click on the image!
Trump seems to think – as he seems to in most matters – that he is the best man for the job when it comes to negotiating peace.
He reckons that what has been described as his direct and unconventional style has enabled him to secure good deals in other international matters, and could be applied to managing Ukraine’s situation.
He has criticised previous US administrations, and even current international alliances, for mishandling foreign policy, claiming that a more assertive, “America First” approach could have redefined the balance of power and influenced Ukraine’s future more decisively.
He says traditional diplomatic channels sometimes lead to stalemates or prolonged conflicts – so by bypassing what he sees as bureaucratic inertia, he reckons a leader with his vision could make bolder decisions that might help shape regions like Ukraine.
These are his personal opinions – and they are highly controversial. Other experts and policymakers argue that such a unilateral approach to a complex international conflict could risk further destabilization and unintended consequences.
Keir Starmer appears to be one of them. He is attending a meeting of European leaders – who have been excluded from Trump’s talks – to discuss ways of ensuring that Ukraine’s own voice is heard.
He has said he is willing to send UK troops to Ukraine, possibly as part of a pan-European peacekeeping force to stand between Ukrainian-held and Russian-held territory and deter Russia from further incursions into its neighbour’s land.
But there is a question over whether the UK currently has enough troops and equipment to manage that, being “run down”, in the words of former Army head Lord Dannatt, after years of under-funding by the Tories.
So the UK could end up putting troops it doesn’t have into a situation it doesn’t want, thereby upsetting its closest military ally, the USA.
This will be awkward.
Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:
Be among the first to know what’s going on! Here are the ways to manage it:
1) Register with us by clicking on ‘Subscribe’ (bottom right of the home page). You can then receive notifications of every new article that is posted here.
2) Follow VP on Twitter @VoxPolitical
3) Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VoxPolitical/
Join the Vox Political Facebook page.
4) You could even make Vox Political your homepage at http://voxpoliticalonline.com
5) Follow Vox Political writer Mike Sivier on BlueSky
6) Join the MeWe page at https://mewe.com/p-front/voxpolitical
7) Feel free to comment!
And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!
If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!
Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.
Cruel Britannia is available
in either print or eBook format here:
The Livingstone Presumption is available
in either print or eBook format here:
Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:
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