Following a recent meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, security expert Carlo Masala is urging European nations to formulate an independent strategy for resolving the conflict in Ukraine.
Masala suggests the encounter appears to have seen a renewed alignment between Trump and Putin, a development he characterizes as detrimental to Ukraine’s position. He argues that previous European efforts to moderate Trump’s stance have proven ineffective and advocates for a move away from reliance on Washington’s foreign policy direction.
“Europe must free itself from this erratic perspective of Trump” Masala stated, emphasizing the need for the continent to pursue its own course of action and utilize existing resources effectively.
A key area where Masala believes Europe must demonstrate autonomy is the allocation of approximately 300 billion euros in frozen Russian assets, for which a final decision has yet to be made.
Masala assesses the summit as a clear win for Putin, who he believes has successfully reset the dynamic with the US, effectively erasing the perceived slight of being labelled a regional power by former US President Barack Obama. “Russia is once again a great power, that is its self-perception” he noted, referencing a restoration of Russia’s standing on the international stage.