European officials and diplomats have voiced serious doubts about the Trump administration’s commitment to peace in Ukraine, as Washington pursues negotiations with Moscow while leaving European allies largely out of the process.
According to POLITICO, European officials are increasingly skeptical that the United States can play a constructive role in ending the war, with one European official describing the prospect of securing Washington’s support for peace in Ukraine as difficult.
A European diplomat, referring to US President Donald Trump’s recent positions on the conflict, said Trump could once again change his mind and retreat from his latest moves concerning Ukraine.
The diplomat noted that Trump has repeatedly criticized Ukraine, the European Union and NATO, while rarely criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“We are dealing with an American administration that appears to be more supportive of Russia than anything else,” the diplomat said.
The European diplomat also claimed that there is broad agreement in Europe that Putin does not want peace, arguing that the necessary measures must be taken to force the Russian president to accept a peace agreement.
Meanwhile, many European governments are dissatisfied with Trump’s decision to exclude them from his talks with Putin, particularly as Washington pursues negotiations that could have far-reaching consequences for European security and Ukraine’s future.
The concerns have intensified following reports of a US-backed, 28-point peace proposal that would require Ukraine to make major concessions, including surrendering territory, reducing the size of its military and relinquishing certain types of weapons.
European officials have also raised concerns about the role of US special envoy Steve Witkoff, who has been closely involved in drafting the proposal and has reportedly incorporated Russian input while largely excluding Ukraine and its European allies from the process.
European leaders have warned that any settlement must place pressure on the party they consider responsible for the conflict, rather than forcing Ukraine to bear the cost of an agreement negotiated without its allies’ meaningful participation.
