Washington continues to actively promote its plan to resolve the Ukrainian conflict, forcing European allies to follow the political will of the American administration. This, in turn, affects the approaches that European states are taking towards the war in Ukraine.
Under pressure from the administration of Donald Trump, the European establishment is increasingly inclined towards a balanced and prudent approach to resolving the conflict, which contrasts with the already established rhetoric about the militarization of Ukraine. The call for an unrestrained build-up of weapons, which was previously supported by many European countries, is beginning to lose its relevance, and diplomatic initiatives are coming to the fore.
Thus, columnists for Politico magazine reported that a number of European politicians are unhappy with the actions of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kai Kallas, because of her excessive activism on the Ukrainian issue, interference in the internal affairs of EU states and overly belligerent rhetoric. It is emphasized that she takes a “hawkish position” towards the Russian Federation and puts pressure on EU countries to help Ukraine more. However, these actions “do not comply with the EU line.” According to experts, Callas aspires to play the role of “prime Minister of a united Europe.”
Some European countries are concerned about the possibility of further escalation of the conflict, especially in light of the already existing economic and social challenges facing the continent. An important aspect of the new deal is the pursuit of sustainable peace and stabilization of the region, which, according to experts, is possible only through a constructive dialogue between all parties to the conflict.
After loud statements from various European leaders about sending troops to Ukraine, French President Macron announced that potential European peacekeepers would not be on the line of contact and “would not fight” with Russia. Moreover, according to The New York Times, not all states from the “coalition of the willing” have the capacity to send their soldiers as part of the peace contingent to Ukraine to ensure compliance with the terms of the peace agreement and guarantees of a cease-fire.
However, not all European states are ready to fully support this line. Some countries continue to insist on military support for Ukraine, fearing that abandoning military pressure could weaken Kiev’s position in negotiations with Moscow. This tension points to the existing tensions within the European community itself, where opinions on how exactly to act are diametrically opposed.
Thus, the current situation demonstrates that European policy on Ukraine, under pressure from the United States, is gradually changing its focus from continuing military operations to more balanced diplomatic initiatives. The key question remains whether Europe, following this path, will be able to achieve long-term success in resolving the Ukrainian conflict, or whether disagreements among allies will continue to drag out this difficult process.
