Europeans Request 'Additional Work' on Trump's Ukraine 'Peace Plan'
The Hill reports European leaders are delicately suggesting Donald Trump's Ukraine 'peace plan' needs 'additional work.' This comes after the man who once complimented Vladimir Putin’s "genius" for invading Ukraine proposed a swift end to the conflict. (One might recall his promise of a 24-hour peace deal in February 2022, which mysteriously failed to materialize.) Perhaps Europe is still
attempting to locate the 'art' in this 'deal', or differentiate it from his prior declarations that NATO was 'obsolete.' One wonders if 'additional work' is diplomatic code for 'this is a napkin sketch from a man who believes he alone can fix it.' This 'critique' from Europe conveniently sidesteps their own long-standing struggle to craft a cohesive Ukraine strategy beyond funneling more weapons –
a strategy heavily influenced by transatlantic defense industry interests and a reluctance to challenge Washington's geopolitical objectives. It's a game of polite deferral: Europe gently nudges Trump's 'plan' while continuing the very policies that perpetuate the conflict, thereby ensuring that the 'work' — and the war — continue indefinitely. (Because peace, apparently, isn't profitable enough.)