German SPD Foreign Policy Official Michael Roth Cannot Share Trump’s Optimism on Ukraine
Michael Roth, a foreign policy official of the German Social Democratic Party (SPD), cannot share the optimism of US President Donald Trump regarding the Ukraine, as he believes the country is far from peace due to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s lack of interest in a peaceful resolution. In an interview with RTL and ntv, Roth stated that Trump has already gone a long way, but is still far from achieving peace in the region. He added that Trump is giving in to Russian demands rather than those of the Ukrainian President.
When asked if Europe should accept a negotiation result from Trump and Putin, Roth replied that if Europe continues to follow the same path, it may have to accept the outcome, as only the language of strength is understood by Trump and Putin. However, Roth emphasized that Europe should take a different approach, investing more in deterrence and defense and following through on its words with actions. This, he believes, could help save Ukraine and keep it a free and democratic country.
Roth acknowledged that in the short term, the situation will be difficult, as Europe is militarily dependent on the US. He described this as a dilemma and stated that a deal with Trump will have to be made, but emphasized that Europe must also show that it is capable of ensuring its own security in the long term.