Following a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a prominent German foreign policy expert is cautiously signaling potential, albeit fragile, progress towards a resolution in the ongoing Ukraine conflict. Jürgen Hardt, foreign policy spokesperson for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, expressed measured optimism in an interview with the “Rheinische Post” suggesting Zelenskyy’s efforts to engage with Trump, even on terms considered pragmatic compromises, appear to be yielding results.
Hardt indicated a positive development in the potential for European involvement, claiming that the inclusion of European actors in peace negotiations is becoming “increasingly natural and self-evident”. This points to a possible shift in the dynamics of the diplomatic process, potentially moving away from a purely bilateral US-Ukraine-Russia focus.
However, Hardt’s assessment is tempered by a stark warning regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin. He posits that Putin’s increasingly confrontational and aggressive rhetoric is inadvertently isolating him, branding him as a “warmongering despot” who actively seeks to undermine Trump’s efforts. The expert suggested Putin is boxing himself in through his unwillingness to engage in genuine compromise.
Despite the observed shifts, Hardt emphasized that a lasting peace remains elusive. Critically, he asserted that Putin currently demonstrates little genuine desire for a negotiated settlement, a stance he believes Trump may currently be tolerating, but cannot sustain indefinitely. This raises concerns about the long-term viability of any potential agreements and highlights the inherent instability of a peace process dependent on the shifting political whims of the US presidency, while simultaneously underlining the entrenched intransigence of the Russian leadership. The inclusion of European powers, while promising, could also prove challenging given the divergent views and national interests within the European Union regarding the conflict’s resolution.