Trump & Putin’s Secret Peace Gambit
In a geopolitical twist that has left Europe reeling, former U.S. President Donald Trump is poised to meet Russian leader Vladimir Putin in a high-stakes summit aimed at ending the Ukraine war. But as whispers of a backroom deal swirl, European leaders staged an emergency Paris summit this week, scrambling to counter Trump’s audacious power play—a move they fear could redraw Europe’s security map without their consent .
1. Trump’s Bombshell: Cutting Europe Out of the Game
Trump’s administration blindsided allies by announcing direct talks with Russia in Saudi Arabia, sidelining both Ukraine and Europe. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will kick off negotiations in Riyadh on Tuesday, with no European or Ukrainian officials invited.
- Why Europe Is Fuming:
- Betrayal of Unity: For three years, the U.S. and Europe stood united against Putin’s invasion. Now, Trump’s abrupt shift—including a secretive call with Putin last week—has shattered that alliance overnight.
- Cold Shoulder Diplomacy: Trump’s envoy, Gen. Keith Kellogg, bluntly declared Europe has “no place at the table,” while Lavrov sneered, “I don’t know what they have to do at the negotiations”.
- Fear of a Weak Deal: European leaders warn that a rushed ceasefire could let Russia regroup and strike again. Danish PM Mette Frederiksen put it bluntly: “Russia is threatening all of Europe” .
2. Europe’s Panic Room: The Paris Emergency Summit
In a dramatic response, France’s Emmanuel Macron convened leaders from Germany, the UK, Italy, Poland, and NATO in Paris. Their mission: salvage Europe’s voice in a war happening on their doorstep.
- Key Takeaways:
- Troops on the Ground?: British PM Keir Starmer vowed to send UK forces to Ukraine if a peace deal includes a U.S. security guarantee. “Only America can deter Putin,” he declared.
- Divided Europe: Poland refuses to deploy troops, while Macron and Rutte (NATO chief) hinted at a Franco-British-Polish peacekeeping force.
- Defense Spending Surge: With Trump demanding Europe “pay up,” leaders agreed to boost military budgets. Poland already spends 4% of GDP—the highest in NATO.
3. Zelensky’s Defiance: “No Deal Without Ukraine!”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, stranded in the UAE during the Saudi talks, fired back: “No leader can make a deal with Putin about us, without us!” .
- Desperate Bargaining: Zelensky signaled openness to granting the U.S. access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals—critical for tech—in exchange for security guarantees. “The question is what Ukraine can get,” he stressed.
- Frontline Diplomacy: Trump’s envoy Kellogg will visit Ukraine’s trenches this week. Zelensky plans to drag him to the frontlines, saying, “Let him see it at their level”.
4. The Transatlantic Rift: Is NATO Dead?
Trump’s team delivered a one-two punch to Europe last week:
- Vance’s Munich Blast: VP JD Vance accused Europe of “crackdowns on free speech” and claimed internal decay—not Russia—is the real threat.
- Hegseth’s NATO Bombshell: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth suggested pulling U.S. troops from Europe and ruled out Ukraine’s NATO membership—a gift to Putin.
Macron’s Verdict: “This feels like a shock to the system” .
5. What’s Next: A New Cold War or a Fragile Peace?
- The Riyadh Wildcard: Will Trump’s team push Putin for concessions, or cave to Kremlin demands? Lavrov claims the talks aim to end the “abnormal period” in U.S.-Russia ties—code for lifting sanctions.
- Europe’s Ultimatum: The EU insists any deal must include them and Ukraine. Spain’s Pedro Sánchez warned: “The aggressor cannot be rewarded”.
Conclusion: A High-Stakes Poker Game
As Trump and Putin shuffle the deck, Europe is scrambling to stay in the game. Will this gamble bring peace—or ignite a new era of transatlantic chaos? One thing’s clear: the rules of global diplomacy are being rewritten, and no one’s sure who’ll hold the winning hand.
