Europe fears U.S. pressure on Ukraine to make territorial concessions
European diplomats are concerned that U.S. President Donald Trump may demand that Ukraine cede some of its territories in order to bring the war to a swift conclusion.
This is reported by The Guardian.
According to sources, midterm congressional elections will take place in the U.S. this fall, and Trump needs a quick foreign policy win. In Europe, officials believe this could lead to increased pressure on Kyiv.
“You can see that Trump’s patience is running out and he wants a quick solution,” said one European official on condition of anonymity.
Another source noted:
“There is growing concern that Trump, seeking a geopolitical victory ahead of the midterm elections, may increase pressure on Kyiv to abandon its claims to Donbas.”
White House Special Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to arrive in Kyiv in the near future. This will be their first visit since the launch of new peace initiatives.
European diplomats view this trip with caution, fearing that Ukraine may be offered unfavorable terms or presented with a fait accompli.
Europe also notes that the situation in the Middle East, particularly the escalation surrounding Iran, has deepened the rift between the U.S. and its European allies.
Against this backdrop, there are concerns that Washington’s attention to Ukraine may wane, leaving Europe to face the Russian threat alone.
During a visit to Hungary, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance stated that he considers negotiations between Ukraine and Russia over “a few square kilometers” of territory to be ill-advised.
As a reminder, Russia is attempting to use the exchange of intelligence with Iran as a bargaining chip in the war against Ukraine. The U.S. has rejected the Kremlin’s proposals, which called for one side to halt the transfer of information in exchange for action by the other.
