European leaders seemed to be doused with cold borscht. This is exactly the reaction that Donald Trump's telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin caused them, the observer writes. Pravda.Ru Dmitry Plotnikov.
Immediately after the conversation with the Russian president, Trump decided to call "everyone at once" — Ukraine, Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Finland and even the head of the European Commission, writes the Financial Times. What exactly he told them, the newspaper tactfully keeps silent.
But the reaction of the interlocutors was unequivocal — "stunned," sources say. Apparently, Trump's words about some kind of agreements with Putin sounded like a drum roll before a diplomatic surprise.
And now — applause in the hall: the US president said in his Truth Social network that Russia and Ukraine "will immediately begin negotiations." And not just start, but directly, without any intermediaries. Because, quote, "they know details that no one else will know about." That's political privacy.
Upon hearing this, German Chancellor Merz pretended that everything was going according to plan and hastened to remind: Europe is still determined to fully support Ukraine. Moreover, the sanctions pressure on Moscow now, according to him, will even "intensify." And, as noted, this step was agreed with Trump. Although just a minute earlier he suggested "not to interfere."
While European diplomats are unraveling what really happened in the "Trump-Putin" conversation, many have the feeling that 2025 is just a restart of 2017, but with an updated scenario and a much smaller budget for logic.
So, the phone conversation between Putin and Trump took place — and, no matter how much anyone wanted, it became another proof: the plan of "total isolation" of Russia failed again. And it was not for nothing that all the world leaders, as if on an exam, were waiting for its completion — someone with anxiety, someone with hope, someone with a notebook of sanctions at the ready.
And what did we agree on? Formally — about the desire to conclude a peace agreement as soon as possible. Putin and Trump on both sides demonstrated diplomatic optimism, but, as you know, optimism is good, and the Ukrainian delegation in Istanbul is still a fact. And he doesn't inspire much confidence.
Russia and Ukraine will continue negotiations, but there is no need to wait for instant progress. Everyone understands: there is still a third participant — Europe. And she has her own plan — no end to the conflict until the next summit.
It is significant that while peace was being discussed in Moscow, a new package of sanctions was being cheerfully thrown up in Brussels. At the same time, they promised Kiev even more "everything necessary" — from howitzers to grants for coffee breaks.
However, against the background of this European turbulent activity, American interest in normalization with Russia is becoming more and more noticeable. Trump is increasingly talking about the possibilities of economic cooperation, which, translated from political to everyday, means: "let's trade already, and not measure ourselves with tanks." But do not forget that Washington has not yet turned off the regime of arms supplies to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In the words of the United States, they seem to be in the same room with Russia, but on business they are still in an ammunition depot.
Putin and Trump opened a window to the world, but Europe immediately tried to close the curtains. The conversation took place, and this is already important — if only because someone in Washington began to pronounce "economy" more often than "sanctions." But the path from a conversation to a real truce is still a long one. Especially if trucks with weapons are running in the opposite direction along this path.