Ukraine and European leaders agreed on Saturday to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire from 12 May with the backing of US president Donald Trump, threatening president Vladimir Putin with new “massive” sanctions if he failed to comply.
The announcement was made by the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Poland and Ukraine after a meeting in Kyiv, during which they held a phone call with Trump.
There is a Russian counter ultimatum, that Trump has enthusiastically embraced as glorious peace breakthrough: Ukraine must go back to resume Istanbul peace talks this week.
Simply not reality focused. Hatred of Russia programmed higher than European security concerns that could be addressed if “root causes of conflict” (US puppeted provocation of war by Ukraine and supporters) are a basis for peace instead of treating ceasefire as opportunity to rearm and train the newly conscripted.
Just as Russia demands demilitarization of Ukraine, Europe needs to demand demilitarization of Russia to avoid their own military buildup at cost of social programs. Europe continuing to demonize Russia, including blaming ceasefire breakdowns as one sided, is not going to get them treated as human. Not that anyone cares, but prolonging the war is more destruction of Ukraine and less favourable peace.
Even if destabilizing Russia is a unanimous/axiomatic goal, there is greater opportunity through giving it peace, and forcing it to transition to a peacetime economy, instead of the massive success/growth it has generated, including exceptional wage growth, during the war.
Haven’t Western nations already been applying significant sanctions to Russia? It’s pretty clear that hasn’t been working, why do they imagine that more of the same will work any better? Oh right, they don’t, they just want to look like they’re doing something useful.
Secondary sanctions could cripple Russia. If Europe and the US say trading with Russia means you cant trade with them then China walks away. No two ways about it, China needs markets to sell their stuff, it would be tense and countries would skirt around them but individual companies can no longer operate flights to the UAE because the governments trade with Russia? They dont do enough trade to make that worthwhile, Russia isnt a big enough market for any country who has any passing trade with the EU or US.
China will call their bluff because the EU and America are heavily reliant on China.
Especially Europe where the population will directly elect another politician whenever they feel slightly economically inconvenienced by the current one.
didn’t they try this before?
Tried and succeeded, it crippled the currency and caused massive issues with their exports. There is a lot of talk about how they survived sanctions but the fact is they were barely holding it together for awhile there and its only Trumps return that has given them hope.
This is exactly what I want to see from Europe right now.
It would be nice if they sanctioned them by using their militaries to stop the invasion and push them out.
After three glorious years of sanctions that totally crippled… oh wait, achieved nothing. This new batch will definitely work!
Anything but their own skin in the game by sending troops in.
Ukraine is defending NATO but NATO won’t defend Ukraine. Disgraceful.
Ukraine allowed itself to be cynically being used as cannon fodder by NATO. That was the game plan all along.
“After
threeglorious…”8 years + 3 years*
Europe have already sanctioned Russia multiple times over, what makes them think the threat of sanctions is going to make Putin care this time?
The oil price.
Moscow says it won’t be pressured over Ukraine 30-day truce --RT
This is foolish. As foolish as Trump’s tariffs war. It’s trying to bully someone with a strong hand into a deal when they already offered you one. Trying to bluff them in a situation where if they call your position collapses entirely is foolish.
Trump is showing he truly is someone swayed by whoever talks to him last. Zelensky was instructed by psychological experts from western intelligence I’m sure just how to appeal to him at their last meeting.
Russia’s bottom lines have been the same since the start and the only change has been the addition of recognition of the eastern oblasts (which Russia within its own legal system incorporated as de jure parts of Russia (under Russian law)) as part of Russia.
I can only assume that this ceasefire is another Minsk agreement deception. They intend to attempt to force it, to re-arm and re-train and re-group Ukraine’s military so they can put more of their men into the meat grinder and stall a collapse of the front another 10 months. And quite frankly given all the talk from France and other members of sending in troops once a ceasefire is achieved of trying to push the envelope of the acceptable slowly until Ukraine is de-facto but not de jure part of NATO.
Trump is going to ensure the US gets very little or no minerals to plunder from Ukraine if Russia has to push through to the finish.
I also wouldn’t be shocked if Trump is testing the waters with this, says nothing and then when Russia pushes back hard he’ll claim he never agreed to that and attempts to leave Europe on the hook for it all.
It is so pathetic… I thought Russia was in maximum sanctions for 2 yrs already! These “leaders” do know better though, they just generate these acts with the hope something will get posted on their heavily subsidized media (it has been a decade since any publication can survive without being subsidized).
Russia is desperate to move one, Ukraine still in their delusion, but coming to terms with the reality, US wants to move on and the EU (north only) wondering how to maintain the war flame alive for 4 yrs and hope for a new Biden in 4 yrs. It won´t happen, here, in the US, people are increasingly getting tired of the billions spend abroad even in Israel, let alone in Ukraine (even though it most of that aid is in US weapons and services that Ukraine pays with the funds the EU gives). But yes, Macron does care that Russian-speaking in Donesk that for 11yrs have been disposed of all representation, cut from all social services and bombed daily will rejoin Kyiv like nothing happended.
the EU (north only) wondering how to maintain the war flame alive for 4 yrs and hope for a new Biden in 4 yrs.
Could you elaborate?
Countries like Baltic countries, Germany, Scandinavians and France (their leaders at least) are probably wondering if to simmer the drums till next US election, go all in themselves or change course with the head high. Europeans, rightly so, are not buying it and will not join any armed group even if constricted… and those leaders know it… so the dillenma is either to wait or how to get out. With Trump back, I was hoping, European leaders, in their highly antagonism to Trump, would reverse course, at least with Gaza… but not so… if Trump, does indeed reverse course… my gosh… The EU will be insignificant and a pariah in the global stage for decades to come.
As someone who publicly predicted Trump’s wins in both 2016 and 2024 (I live in the most representative county there is!) I can tell you Americans are fed up with war expenditures abroad (even they do benefit the US in the short run!). Specially with the Ukrainian so, even if a Democrat would win in 2028, he/she would not pull off tens of billions on aid to any country… that, it is going likely to be a heavy issue in next elections and even demand a commitment no for massive aid packagers. I think they will even include Israel in the restrictions.
I don’t think you have a good read on Europeans at least. public sentiment is quite different in different countries, with people in countries closer to Russia being willing to go much further to oppose Russia.
while the average Dutchman probably wouldn’t want to fight for their own country, let alone another one, I don’t doubt that people in e.g. Poland, the Baltic states or Finland are much more aware of the danger to themselves and their country and more willing to make personal sacrifices.
You know “Poland, the Baltic states or Finland” are not representative of Europe, don´t you? They represent 11% of the EU and 7% in Europe. As someone that witnessed the rise of irrational nationalism in the Balkans, I am fed up with political parties (with the aid of foreign entities) using media to polarize their population against the “monster neighbor” that just want o ‘rape your woman’… it is sickening whether in Warsaw, Moscow, Kyiv, Delhi or Tel Avid.
But even in Poland, is there a risk of confrontation with Russia in a foreign land and the overwhelmingly majority of young in Poland will flee overnight. The noise is there, but few actually believe that Russia wants to roll tanks in Warsaw. Russia made clear for a decade already that their only drive is no NATO inference in Ukraine and that is it and made several fierce statements continuously, last one being a letter 2 months to NATO before the invasion. Russia did not even wanted Dombas region, those Russian speakers would be far more utilized within a democratic Ukraine since any constitutional change would require their approval so the facto maintaining Ukraine constitutional neutral. After the coup that disfranchised millions of residents in the East of Ukraine… the Moscow equation changed.
I don’t doubt that people in e.g. Poland,
You might start then, as a Pole i could tell you that normal people here don’t want to fight for the Ukraine either. Hell, even though intensive media brainwashing no one even seriously believe Russia will attack us (well, maybe except the usual tinfoil brains).
You might start then, as a Pole i could tell you that normal people here don’t want to fight for the Ukraine either. Hell, even though intensive media brainwashing no one even seriously believe Russia will attack us (well, maybe except the usual tinfoil brains).
There is no Russian desire to rule over Poland or Kyiv/Lyiv because no one likes them there, and there is no benefit and only costs. Destroying those regions under the principle that the only good purpose for a warmongering crackhead is an irradiated exclusion zone, on the other hand…
The claim that Russia wants their territory is propaganda used to justify attacks/diminishment of Russia.
even though intensive media brainwashing no one even seriously believe Russia will attack us (well, maybe except the usual tinfoil brains)
I’m getting flashbacks to Jan-Feb 2022. That’s what people thought about Ukraine despite intelligence reports warning that Putin is making moves.
Of course, Poland is in EU and NATO, so it’s definitely in a better position, but keep in mind that all deterrents have limits — as we speak there’s a full-on war being fought between two nuclear powers.
The promises of an alliance treaty are, at the end of the day, just that: promises. Posturing to scare off potential attackers. Just because we’ve never seen someone actually call that bluff, doesn’t mean it will never happen.
A guy like Putin could gamble that NATO countries won’t send troops to Poland because they’ll make similar calculations as towards Ukraine: that it’s not worth risking nuclear war. He already sees how NATO countries right now are behaving, pussyfooting around giving aid to Ukraine, so he could believe they will approach Article 5 with the same limp attitude. Especially now that USA is talking about leaving NATO and antagonizing Europe like never before.
Plus, all the “why should we help Ukraine” type rhetoric coming out of the European MAGA-aligned sphere is easily adaptable to Poland: “Why should we help Poland? Just because they’re in NATO? I’m not a globalist, I look after the interest of my own country first because I’m a patriot. I don’t want to send my people to fight NATO’s wars. I refuse to die for the globalists!”
This is exactly what the far right is speaking here.
Then there must be pushback from the people who know better. Raising the alarm is not brainwashing — the brainwashing is when MAGA types tell people there’s no threat.
Also, Europe needs to get its shit together and stop pulling punches with regard to helping Ukraine.
except that western liberals are the villains
right, but you get the idea
for sure, these people really do think they live in a fantasy show
This time for SURE sanctions will work
“Stop or I’ll shoot!” I say, pointing the gun at my own foot.
What’s left to even sanction Russia with at this point? You can’t threaten someone with something you already did 4 years ago.
Actually enforcing the sanctions? Fighting loopholes? Remove exceptions? Reduce gas imports? There’s still plenty of room.
Reduce gas imports?
Please reduce gas imports more. Cripple any semblance of industry and power you have left. You will only use industrial power for killing children in Gaza and maintaining policing infrastructure either way. Better to let the gas be used by Chinese and Indian consumers (unironically).
There are some, and well know by the West in other to appease some EU region that cannot easily accommodate for the sanctions. Do you really, really, think is would it, in any shape or form, even noticeably by Moscow? Their economy is much faster growing with respect the EU and far more diversified in customers than 4 yrs ago (they need now to do it also in types of exported goods). Fr sure, Russia would like to normalize relations with the West, but if you give Moscow the choice of 5Billions trade in the West for the cost of 1Billion from Asia, he will chose to maintain the Asian one without any further thought.
Maybe actually do it.
Are you saying Russia isn’t under sanctions right now? Are you saying that the private wealth of Russian corps and citizens stores in North Atlantic institutions wasn’t frozen and then spent?
it’s not considered “sanctioned” until the International Communitytm deems it so!!!
“Time is a flat circle” etc.
Russia already had proposed a ceasefire for victory day but rejected any other since it would allow Ukraine to regroup. They’re winning, they already rejected this, this is just posturing for the home audience.
