Trump pushes Ukraine to capitulate to his imposed peace deal — diplomat Bryza

He said this in an interview with Anton Borkovskyi, host of the Studio West program on Espreso TV.

“Putin is the one dreaming of the Cold War era order where Moscow and Washington determine much of world affairs. I think that’s what Putin really wants. I don’t think Trump has a clear concept in mind. Everyone I know who has worked directly with him has said the same thing. He has no ideology, no strategy, only self-interest, and the belief that the world can be structured through business deals because in his view everyone has a price just like Trump himself. He either buys you or eventually gets bought. But for him there is no ideology,” noted Bryza.

Recently, in his speech, Trump said he intends to achieve a peace agreement, but for that, Ukraine must be strong. However, in the past few weeks, the situation has somewhat changed.

“A shift became evident about a week ago when Defense Secretary Hegseth, while in Europe likely in Brussels, publicly announced the concessions Russia wanted before negotiations even began. He stated that the US does not believe Ukraine can or should join NATO or that it will ever fully regain all of its territories seized by Russia,” the diplomat noted.

That announcement signaled that the previous Trump stance that Ukraine must be strong to negotiate a settlement had broken and changed.

Now he just wants to force what seems to be a capitulation on Ukraine at any cost which means a capitulation by him to Russia, says Bryza.

"He seeks to make himself look good as a peacemaker without caring about shared values or considering the historical reality that we know. History has shown that if an aggressor like Putin is appeased as he was in Georgia in 2008 and in Crimea and Donbas in 2014 it only encourages further aggression," he added.

Today, with his recent statements and the speeches of his colleagues in Munich, Trump is effectively calming Putin, which only pushes him towards new attacks – potentially on Moldova, the Baltic states, or even attempting to undermine NATO, believes Bryza. “I think Trump does not understand any of this. I don't believe Trump necessarily wants to work with Putin to divide up the world but Putin does want that and Trump does not realize it because he does not understand history.”

According to him, Trump does not accept the concept of shared interests that have united the transatlantic community over the last 70 years since World War II, creating the most stable period of peace between major powers during one of the most dangerous times. He doesn't take this seriously. He rather believes he must win by imposing his version of peace.

• U.S. President Donald Trump gave Europe three weeks to "agree on the terms of Ukraine's surrender," stated European Parliament member Mika Aaltola.