Mend U.S.-EU rift first, then talk about peace

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In their much-anticipated talks on Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin agreed that the peace in Ukraine "will begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire."

True, the limited halt on energy facility strikes is less extensive than a full 30-day ceasefire that the White House previously hoped would be the first step toward a permanent peace deal. But the dialogue itself – regarded as an extraordinary olive branch to the Kremlin – is a sign of both sides' willingness for improved ties since the Ukrainian crisis plunged U.S.-Russia relations into an ice bath in 2014.

However the situation evolves in Ukraine, the international community is witnessing a thaw in Washington-Moscow relations. In their lengthy conversation, Trump and Putin spoke broadly about their bilateral ties. "A future with an improved bilateral relationship between the United States and Russia has a huge upside. This includes enormous economic deals and geopolitical stability when peace has been achieved," according to the White House statement.

European countries had been anticipating the U.S. to stand united against the Kremlin, but Trump is straightforward about his purpose – America First. To this end, the Trump administration has previously suggested that Ukraine make concessions over land and give up its ambitions for NATO membership.

Unlike his predecessors, who have been viewing Russia as an "evil" state, Trump as a businessman-turned-politician is much more pragmatic in his handling of international relations. An improving relationship with the Kremlin is also on Trump's agenda, if it brings him more benefits.

But apparently, this is not what European countries are ready to accept.

Since Trump criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a "dictator" and opened direct negotiations with the Kremlin without Ukraine or Europe at the table, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron have stepped up efforts to establish a "coalition of the willing" in support of Ukraine without the United States.

Days before the Trump-Putin talks, Starmer hosted a virtual meeting on Saturday to marshal pressure on Russia and discuss preparations to support Ukraine. Around two dozen leaders from France, Germany, Italy, Australia, Canada and other Western countries took part – but not the United States.

"We agreed we will keep increasing the pressure on Russia, keep the military aid flowing to Ukraine, and keep tightening restrictions on Russia's economy to weaken Putin's war machine and bring him to the table," Starmer told reporters.

Unsurprisingly, this has triggered an angry response from Russia, which had previously voiced its strong opposition to NATO peacekeepers in the region. "Macron and Starmer are playing dumb … Consult with Trump, scumbags," Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev wrote on X, indicating that military aid to Kyiv could mean war with NATO.

Clearly, European countries and the United States have their respective calculations on the Ukraine conflict. While EU countries want to squeeze Moscow's strategic room, the Trump administration is more interested in grabbing as many resources as possible from the parties concerned than upholding the so-called common values and exhibiting solidarity with allies.

To put it bluntly, Europe's support for Ukraine is for the sake of European geopolitics, and Trump's "mediation" efforts are for the sake of America First. Their widening divergences have determined the difficulties in reaching a permanent peace deal. Mending their rifts is perhaps the first step for the West to take to address the Ukraine conflict.

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