Putin builds new Berlin wall

The Russian dictator’s goal is clear: push the Americans out of Europe and, with China’s help, dominate the continent. This aligns perfectly with Trump’s “America First” agenda, as the 47th president seems ready to step back from global leadership.

The sad part is that Putin and the new resident of the White House see eye-to-eye on Europe’s potential: both view them as "small Europeans," and some experts are already whispering about a new "Yalta," where Putin and Trump could hammer out a new Berlin Wall… this time in the English Channel. In other words, the weak, toothless EU as we know it could end up in the orbit of the Global South.

"This "Yalta" scenario fits neatly into today’s economic climate: under Trump’s next term, the U.S. is poised to wall itself off from the world with steep tariffs, including those against the EU. For Europe’s struggling economies, losing one of their biggest markets is practically a death sentence."

In this void, China will swoop in with its cheap loans and goods, while Russia doles out energy “relief packages.” Europe knows all too well how hard it was to break its dependence on Russian gas, but the grip China has is no less serious: Chinese imports to Europe are now double its exports, and it’s only getting tougher for Brussels. “Trumponomics” could leave Europe at the mercy of geopolitical players from the Global South.

"With Trump, a deal could be struck on both dividing Europe and slicing up the world. After our victory on the battlefield," says Konstantin Malofeev, Orthodox son of a bitch, pro-Putin oligarch and war sponsor.

"Meanwhile, the "Scholzes" of Europe — heirs to Merkel’s cautious pragmatism — cling to dreams of a grand economic zone from "Lisbon to Vladivostok." They imagine that by sacrificing Ukraine, they can dodge a bigger war. They fail to see that Ukraine is just the latest battleground in Putin’s quest to restore Soviet-era dominance."

The EU is losing ground, and it’s happening in plain sight. Look no further than the recent BRICS summit (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa). Not only was Turkish President Erdoğan there, but UN Secretary-General António Guterres joined the gathering. Seeing the Secretary-General cozy up to Putin and Xi in Kazan is a slap in the West’s face, a signal that the winds are no longer blowing in the EU’s favor.

Then there’s the rise of pro-Putin forces across Europe: the far-right and far-left. This isn’t just Hungary, Slovakia, the Netherlands, or Italy. A Trump victory would embolden extremists on both sides of the political spectrum across Europe.

Trump and Putin might have reasons to clash, but that’s a story for another day. For now, we focus on their shared disdain for the Old World.

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About the author. Orest Sohar, journalist, editor-in-chief of Obozrevatel

The editorial staff does not always share the opinions expressed by the blog authors.