Hamid Khoshayand – International Affairs Expert
In recent days, the Trump administration has begun to make “multifaceted” and sometimes “contradictory” statements and actions regarding the war in Ukraine, which have angered Europe and the Zelensky government. There are significant points in this regard, the most important of which are discussed below:
One; The US government has “unilaterally” initiated negotiations with Putin regarding the cessation of the war with Russia. Some sources have even announced that a team from the White House, without informing Ukraine, traveled to Moscow to talk with Russian officials. After his talks with Putin, Trump, with his “deal-oriented” approach, has indicated that the part of Ukrainian territory that Russia has seized should be under Russian control because they have suffered heavy losses in taking over the said areas.
Two; The White House has made the continued US support for Ukraine in the war with Russia subject to conditions that are practically beyond Ukraine’s ability and cannot be easily implemented; unless Ukraine becomes an unofficial “colony” or part of the US political entity. In this regard, the Trump administration has stated that “the United States has provided more than $300 billion in various forms of assistance to Ukraine and it would be foolish for Washington to continue to financially support Kiev without receiving anything in return.”
In this regard, Trump has claimed that in exchange for supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia, the United States should have access to the country’s “rare metal” resources and mines, which have large reserves of titanium, lithium, and graphite and have an economic value of about $500 billion.
In a meeting with Zelensky during his visit to Kiev, the US Treasury Secretary has also proposed that the United States receive 50% of Ukraine’s rare mineral stocks as compensation for the military and financial assistance provided to Kiev during the war with Russia.
According to the White House’s proposals, the Ukrainian government is forced, first, to comply with everything the Trump administration demands, and second, with the momentum that has been created between the United States and Russia on Trump’s initiative in this regard, to sign a ceasefire agreement as soon as possible on the terms announced by Trump.
In the process, the Trump administration has started to stop the war in Ukraine. Only the interests of the United States have been taken into account, and no attention has been paid to European countries’ interests, security, and considerations. This is while the war is located in Europe’s political, security, and territorial geography. In fact, Europe is an inseparable part of the Ukrainian war and has incurred significant costs in economic, political, security, and even social dimensions in these years.
As is evident from the positions of European officials, this issue has intensified the concerns of European governments. If the Trump administration’s initiative to end the war continues, it will definitely escalate the “tension” in Brussels-Washington relations.
From Europe’s perspective, the process Trump has started is the realization of peace for which Europe will pay the “price” that has provided more than 80 billion euros in economic aid to Ukraine for the war with Russia, and it has two specific aspects; first, the United States will gain access to Ukraine’s “mineral resources and geoeconomic assets.” Second, “Russian dominance over parts of Ukrainian territory” will be consolidated and guaranteed.
If the US government’s moves and consultations come to fruition, the “loser” will ultimately be Ukraine and Europe. In a war that was started primarily by the will of the Americans and within the framework of NATO’s policy of expanding Eastward and
keeping Russia busy, Ukraine has suffered direct losses of more than $200 billion. This is in addition to 290,000 deaths, more than 800,000 injuries, and the destruction of important parts of Ukraine’s infrastructure. In fact, Ukraine has become a victim, willingly or unwillingly, of the US’s “crisis-making policy.” Today, Ukraine’s economy is more than two-thirds smaller than the day before the war began. Despite such consequences and extensive losses that were initially imposed on Ukraine due to US strategies, the US is now pursuing a biased approach to impose peace on Ukraine and, beyond that, “blackmail” in the form of receiving compensation from Kiev.
Five; At least for those familiar with the US policy, the statements and plans of the Trump administration regarding the war in Ukraine are not strange or new. The “essence” of politics and power in America is based on the fact that it only “values” its own national interests, sacrifices everyone for this end, and pays little attention to the interests of others.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has also become a victim of “trust” in America. The situation Ukraine is facing today is an experience acquired at a significant cost. But it contains an important and instructive lesson for other countries, especially in the region and the Islamic world, as well as European countries. Playing on America’s turf or accompanying the policies of the White House, whether Republicans or Democrats are in office, has no other end than this. The war waged during the Biden era and within the framework of America’s international interests must now end in the Trump era in line with America’s interests.
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