The key facts
- Politico: European officials believe Trump criticizes Kyiv more often than Moscow and fear his sympathy for Putin.
- The trigger was Trump's statement that Russia 'behaved normally in Ukraine'.
- EU diplomats complain about a lack of information on Washington's contacts with Moscow.
European officials' concerns
European officials fear that US President Donald Trump's personal dislike of Volodymyr Zelensky may hinder achieving peace in Ukraine. In their assessment, the American leader criticizes Kyiv and its allies more often than Moscow and applies pressure primarily on the Ukrainian leadership. This is reported by Politico.
Trump's statement about Russia
The trigger for the new concerns was Trump's statement that Russia 'behaved normally in Ukraine' and 'didn't do all that much there.' For Kyiv's European allies, these words became yet another sign that Washington is leaning toward Vladimir Putin's position. Former British government minister David Lidington linked Trump's behavior to his personal preferences.
Diplomats' opinions
This assessment is shared by some representatives of European governments. One official who has observed both presidents said that Trump simply does not like Zelensky, which makes it harder for Washington to help achieve peace: the American leader's businesslike approach is not always decisive. A diplomat from one EU country suggested that Trump may still reconsider his position, but noted that the US president has repeatedly changed his views on various issues while almost never criticizing Putin.
Lack of information on contacts with Moscow
European governments are also concerned about the lack of information on Washington's contacts with Moscow. According to one diplomat, European allies do not always know what the American and Russian sides are discussing. He suggested that the intensity of their dialogue may be higher than is known to European capitals.
Washington Post data
Earlier, The Washington Post wrote that Trump does not believe in Ukraine's victory over Russia and, in the long term, favors Putin over Zelensky. According to the newspaper's source, the American leader is convinced of Russia's superiority and believes Ukraine cannot achieve military success. A former intelligence officer believes this perception persists regardless of periodic changes in relations between Washington and Kyiv.
