US President-elect Donald Trump “cannot afford a catastrophic defeat” for Kiev, Radoslaw Sikorski has argued
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski has claimed that a potential peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine would have a similar impact as the 1945 Potsdam Conference, which shaped the post-World War II order for decades.
During a Tuesday interview with the TVN24 broadcaster, Sikorski shared his perspective on how the administration of US President-elect Donald Trump could alter American policy on Ukraine and the consequences for the rest of Europe.
The minister stated that “Potsdam-type decisions are in the air,” adding that they “could establish a new international order for decades.” He was referring to the agreement between the Soviet Union and the Western allies that resulted in the de facto emergence of Eastern and Western blocs, the division of Germany, and the intense Cold War rivalry that followed.
According to Sikorski, Poland, a staunch supporter of Ukraine since the start of hostilities, is also preparing for a “dramatic” EU Foreign Affairs Council next week. “Massive decisions must be made, or will not be made, about whether we are ready to allocate real resources, for example frozen Russian assets, to support Ukraine,” he said.
At the same time, the foreign minister argued that while the incoming Trump administration seeks to end the conflict, it “cannot afford a catastrophic defeat for Ukraine.” In support of his stance, Sikorski cited the chaotic withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan in 2021, noting that “the perception of defeat in Afghanistan was a burden for the [Joe] Biden administration.”
Before the US presidential election, Trump repeatedly pledged to end the Ukraine conflict within 24 hours even before taking office. Media reports have suggested that the president-elect is swiftly shaping US policy on the matter.
The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this month that one plan under consideration would involve Kiev halting its aspirations to join NATO and freezing the conflict along the current front line. While Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky has ruled out any “trade” involving territories Kiev considers its own, local media suggest that he might have little choice if the US were to pressure him into accepting a deal with Russia.
Moscow, which has made significant gains on the battlefield in recent months, has ruled out any freeze in the conflict but has signaled that it remains open to dialogue.