Trump’s Russian Roulette: Negotiating without Ukrainian Input
Avery Kachmarsky
Staff Writer
Ukraine, actively defending its sovereignty from a now three-years-long invasion by Russia, must be included and fully involved in peace talks and negotiations between the United States and Russia. However, the Trump administration has initiated talks without Ukrainian representation. While this may be seen as progress on ending the Russo-Ukraine War, if one party of the conflict is not present, there is less chance of a peaceful resolution. Given that Ukraine has had to defend itself from initial and ongoing aggression, its absence from the negotiation table almost certainly guarantees that concessions would be made on its behalf. These concessions, without Ukrainian approval, would not foster lasting peace and would only serve to reinforce Putin’s belief that aggression and committing atrocities is a viable way to expand power.
Members of the Trump administration have been in contact with representatives from Moscow, including Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, according to Reuters. Earlier in February, Trump stated that Ukraine’s aspiration for NATO membership was not practical. The new U.S. Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, has also stated that the land currently controlled by Russia would not be able to be given back to Ukraine, who has called for a return to “2014 borders.” In 2014, Russia invaded the Ukrainian region of Crimea and later took control of settlements in the east of Ukraine, in a region known as the Donbas, as stated by Al Jazeera. The issue with the comments made by Trump and Hegseth is that they parrot the same comments made by Putin and other Russian officials. By mirroring Russian statements, the U.S. is falling in line behind Russia, accepting its demands and actively dismissing Ukraine. If Russia’s demands are acknowledged, the very concept of sovereignty relating to international law will be threatened.
After recent statements made by American officials related to the conflict, including Vice President JD Vance’s rhetoric against American allies for censored elections, illegal immigration, and restrictions to free speech, an emergency meeting for the European Union was scheduled, reports NBC News. According to the The Associated Press, the meeting will consist of 27 leaders with the goal to create a unified statement on the United States’ role in negotiations. European nations are surprised at the lack of American support for Ukraine to join NATO and for reinstatement of its pre-conflict borders. As a result of recent elections and European frustrations with American leadership, new pledges of aid have been made for Ukraine, mainly with an increase in shells and lethal weapons. With the potential for the U.S. to have a diminished presence in Europe and for its aid to cease, European leaders must combat the growing threat against Ukraine, unifying despite differences for collective European security.
Trump has also taken aim at individual European leaders, including the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, and the French President, Emmanuel Macron. Per BBC News, Trump continues to argue that these leaders have not been working on ending the war and creating peace in Ukraine. However, Starmer and Macron have both sent needed aid to Ukraine and have pledged their support for Ukrainian any potential negotiation. Trump’s diplomacy playbook is largely informed by his admiration of the American peace deal, which does not recognize many Ukrainian objectives and conflicts with the European idea of a negotiation that benefits Ukraine, not Russia. The language and tone that Trump often deploys whether in person or through social media is aggressive and not often given factual sources. When referring to Ukraine, he stresses that cities are being destroyed and that soldiers are being killed in larger amounts than have been verified, characterizing the war as a burden because of Ukrainians rather than the aggression of Russia. Trump completely dismisses that Ukrainians are dying for the freedom of their country as a direct result of the action of Russia and its forces.
Trump has criticized American allies in both his first and second terms. Starmer and Macron, as well as most European leaders other than the few who do not fully support Ukraine, have repeatedly called for America to not appease Putin by giving in to his demands. The argument has been made to Trump that he must negotiate with Ukraine not only in mind but also at the table. European leaders have also voiced their concern over Europe being left out of American peace talks, maintaining their ties to the conflict based on security for the continent. This issue continues to be highlighted by NATO leadership, according to The Associated Press. European officials continually stress that ending aid for Ukraine in turns hurts their relationship with the U.S. and want the U.S. to not rush negotiations and ensure Ukrainian participation.
Ukraine, as well as other European nations, should be welcomed and included in any negotiation dealing with their sovereignty and collective security, as stated by the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, per NBC News. It is unacceptable for a country fighting for its survival against an invader to be left out of talks about its future and the only way that peace will result in negotiations is if both parties at war are represented. A just peace will result only if Ukraine’s right to negotiate, represent, and maintain its sovereignty is restored.
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