It is not fair. But in the worst case, tens of thousands can die for a war that ends with a worse result than US President Donald Trump is proposing today. His proposal definitely takes more attention to Putin’s interests than the Ukrainians. But Trump’s patience is about to end. “We cannot continue to spend time and resources on this trial if it does not proceed,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the TV channel NBC on Sunday. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, here during a meeting in Washington, DC April 25. Photo: Kevin Dietsch / AFP / NTB He suggested that the decision to give up the Ukraine diplomacy can be taken this next week. President Donald Trump’s impatience is now also targeting Putin. After a short meeting with Ukraine’s president of Rome on Saturday, he threatened Putin with new sanctions. He referred to the missile attack on civilian areas in Ukraine last week. “It makes me think that he may not want to stop the war, he just keeps me on grass,” Trump wrote on his message app Truth Social. Earlier this week, he accused Zelenskyj of helping to extend the landmarks. Zelenskyjs no to Trump – Crimea will stay with Russia. And Zelenskyj understands it, President Trump said in an interview with Time Magazine on Friday. He also rhetorically asks why Ukraine gave up Crimea in 2014 without loosening a shot. But Ukraine’s president refuses to give up Crimea. That would be in violation of the Ukrainian Constitution. According to the Constitution, any amendment to the country’s territory must be submitted to a referendum. The vote must be adopted by parliament. The requirement to give up Crimea is just one of the points in what the United States mentions as Trump’s “latest offer” of peace. The “offer” also contains a no to Ukrainian NATO membership and recognition that Russia “de facto” occupies large parts of four Ukrainian counties. There is nothing about US security guarantees. Putin gives little during the press conference with Støre and Stoltenberg in the White House last Thursday, Trump was asked if Russia had given any licenses. They have given a “fairly large concession” by not taking the whole country, black US president. Trump does not even seem to know that both the United States and Russia are part of international agreements that guarantee states’ territorial unity and sovereignty. Putin also requires the US to help Russia with access to the international payment system Swift. There will be no ceasefire without, according to the Chief of the Kremlin. US special envoy Steve Witkoff meets Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on April 25. Photo: Kristina Kormilitsyna / AP / NTB It is a requirement the United States cannot fulfill. The EU will not allow it without as part of a larger peace agreement. On the other hand, Russia is willing to give up the requirement for full demilitarization of Ukraine. The US attitude should be that Putin must give up that question. But it is not known whether Russia requires a roof to the size of the country’s armed forces. And Trump has so far shown no signs that he will seriously take the threats of new sanctions against Russia. On the other hand, he promises to raise all financial sanctions if Putin accepts the proposal. A divided and weak Europe President Zelenskyj’s problem is that he risks standing quite alone if he rejects Trump’s humiliating peace proposal. For what is he left with if the United States gives up a peace agreement? It is very likely that Americans at the same time stop weapons deliveries to Ukraine. Maybe they also say no to sharing intelligence information. The plans for a European “coalition of willing” may end up on the drawing board. For it will take a long time to stack on the legs alternatives to intelligence data from US satellites. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyj in intense conversation with Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer and France President Emmanuel Macron during the European Summit on Ukraine in London on March 2. Photo: Justin Tallis / AFP / NTB Several NATO countries are against helping Ukraine militarily. It is therefore unlikely that such a coalition will be allowed to use NATO’s military resources. A European strength in Ukraine can be soldiers on the ground, aircraft and sea battle forces. But what should they do in practice? Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in February already that Russia excludes any form of European peacekeeping forces in Ukraine. Also: Without American back cover, they will not be able to deterrent. Putin has very little respect for Europeans. Without the United States, there is not an opponent with the credibility needed. European soldiers cannot act as “peacekeeping”. Then they can quickly be challenged by Russian forces and in practice be at war with Russia. They can observe at a distance, provide professional military advice and act in support functions for the Ukrainians. But Ukraine has for over three years had a professional military support from an American headquarters in the Wiesbaden in Germany. It has not been enough to drive the Russians back. Putin has better time than Trump Putin has four times larger population than Ukraine to collect soldiers from. The economy is rescheduled for war. Russia struggles with both inflation, high interest rates and increasingly accurate sanctions. But Putin has largely succeeded in portraying the war as a matter of Russia’s survival. Young Russians expose both children and home purchases to that matter. Rapid surveillance and large penalties close the mouths of most who are against the war. Trump’s impatience is also Putin’s resource. He jokes when special envoy Steve Witkoff comes to the Kremlin. He may even accept a ceasefire. Especially if it is followed by relief in US sanctions and cooperation on energy and industry. For it is “Art of the Deal” chief his Trump very interested. President Donald Trump has not met Russian President, Vladimir Putin, during this presidential period. They will hardly meet now, unless everything is ready to sign an agreement on Ukraine. Photo: AFP Zelenskyj under Press Zelenskyj faces several dilemmas. He can accept Trump’s proposal. But then Ukraine probably loses too well close to a fifth of her territory. For neither he nor European forces have the power to take the occupied areas back. It also means that he must sign the “mineral agreement”. It gives the United States access to a large part of the revenue from the extraction of Ukraine’s natural resources. He can continue the defense war, but without American support. Putin can sit as president until 2036. The conditions for a peace agreement will hardly improve over the years. But if he accepts Trump’s proposal, he at the same time risks that increased resistance at home. In the worst case, he can be deposited, in a legal or formally illegal manner. An American farewell to Ukraine could also have major and long -term consequences for NATO. But it is, as it is called, “another story”. Published 28.04.2025, at. 06.49 Updated 28.04.2025, at. 07.13
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