The conversation recently between the president of the United States, Donald Trump, and Russian President Vladimir Putin have clarified the emerging diplomatic structure around Ukraine. What we are witnessing resembles the first reading of a work: the distribution of roles in what can become the next act of the evolution of the conflict.
Trump gradually aligns with Russia’s proposal framework: direct dialogue between Moscow and kyiv, with the United States serving as referee and guarantor, mainly to guarantee the reliability of Ukraine. Western Europe is excluded from this scenario, seen not as a neutral part but as a destructive actor in denial about its role in the conflict.
The alarmed reaction of the kyiv capitals and the EU is understandable. Your favorite model assumes a “Collective Ukraine” Composed of kyiv, Brussels and Washington, presenting a united front against Moscow, coordinating the pressure through the sanctions and establishing the conditions for the conversations. Trump has no interest in this script. His rejection of collective pressure seems not only consistent, but increasingly safe.
At this stage, the substance of possible negotiations remains secondary. Trump’s priority is the appearance of movement. For him, optics is more important than the results, and Putin, understanding the pace of performance, is playing with skills.
Excluding Western Europe from the process is not incidental. It directly serves Moscow’s interests. Only kyiv seems to realize that the role of the block has become largely obstructive, without offering leverage, only rhetorical posture and attempts to derail any path to dialogue.
The key question now is whether the roles allocation will remain. If he does, a new diplomatic phase could begin: with Moscow and Washington, shaping the conversation, kyiv adapted to a decreased choir and Western Europe relegated to the audience.
This article was first published by Kommersant, and was translated and edited by the RT team.
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