A Trumpian game of ping pong over Ukraine's future

A week of rival summits involving Russia and European supporters of Ukraine has ended in confusion and deadlock, in large part because the US President persists in refusing to understand the nature of this war.

- Jonathan Eyal

The week began with what appeared to be a significant European diplomatic triumph. The presidents of France and Finland, as well as the leaders of Britain, Germany and Italy and the heads of the European Union and Nato military alliance, flew to Washington to persuade US President Donald Trump to agree to a joint approach towards ending the war in Ukraine.

Mr Trump appeared to agree with them that, when the war in Ukraine stops, the US should join the Europeans in providing the Ukrainians with security guarantees, something he never previously considered.

Yet less than 24 hours after the Europeans departed, the US President returned to his old habit of blaming Ukraine for having the temerity to fight against the Russian invaders. Mr Trump also cast doubts on the security guarantees America plans to offer the Ukrainians. And Russian officials scotched Mr Trump's claims that he was on the cusp of arranging direct talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

So, a week that began with high optimism ends in utter confusion. Cut flowers in a vase last longer than European diplomatic initiatives.

MISUNDERSTANDING THE WAR President Trump is correct about the Ukraine conflict being now just a war of attrition in which neither side can prevail. Moscow knows it can't, and it won't be allowed to occupy all of Ukraine as President Vladimir Putin planned when he launched his all-out invasion in February 2022. And the Ukrainians know that, regardless of how ingenious, courageous or well-equipped they may be, they won't be able to defeat Russia. Stopping the fighting, therefore, makes sense.

The trouble for Mr Trump is that he persists in refusing to understand the nature of this war. It is not, as the US leader believes, given his background in construction and real estate, about territory, and it won't be solved by merely forcing Ukraine to give up more land to Russia.