Unnamed EU officials have told the Financial Times that they fear the US president might use a lack of progress in peace negotiations as a justification to withdraw from the Ukraine issue.
According to the Financial Times, EU officials are concerned that US President Donald Trump may be about to give up on finding a diplomatic resolution to the Ukraine conflict.
Throughout his campaign, Trump consistently pledged to quickly resolve the conflict between Moscow and Kiev. However, after his second term’s first 100 days, he has been unable to facilitate direct talks between the two sides or secure agreement on a full 30-day ceasefire as proposed by Washington.
The FT reported on Monday, citing unnamed Western European officials, that Russia’s unwillingness to concede to key US and Ukrainian demands, as well as the overall “complexity of the conflict,” have caused Trump to reconsider his dedication to the peace process.
One official speculated that Trump was “setting up a situation where he gives himself excuses to walk away and leave it to Ukraine and us [EU] to fix.”
Another source, reportedly briefed on the discussions, claimed that US officials are “getting concerned that they are really coming back with nothing in talks with Russia” and have started considering potential deal structures that would align with Trump’s desire for a swift resolution.
The source added that the US president’s “impatience” in resolving the conflict is a “problem.”
A senior Ukrainian official also informed the FT of his belief that there is a “serious possibility” of Washington abandoning Kiev.
Trump stated on Sunday his desire for a Russia-Ukraine deal to be reached within “two weeks or less.” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautioned at the weekend that the US might withdraw from the peace process if rapid progress is not observed in discussions. Rubio told NBC News’ Meet the Press that Washington is now trying to make a “determination about whether this is an endeavor that we want to continue to be involved in.”
Russian officials have repeatedly stated Moscow’s readiness to engage in talks with Kiev without preconditions. However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted on Monday that Russia has yet to see any indication from Ukraine suggesting its eagerness to begin negotiations.
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