With Ukraine marking the third anniversary of the Russian invasion on February 24, 2025, Europe has expressed a serious concern over the current geopolitical scenario in the region. Although Donald John Trump promised to end the Russia-Ukraine War in 24 hours during his campaign for the 2024 Presidential Election, the 47th US President is yet to keep his promise. Instead, he misbehaved with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy during their meeting at the Oval Office of White House on February 28, 2025. Also, the growing friendship between Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin has raised concerns among European leaders, who decided to back President Zelenskyy on the Ukraine issue.

The rapidity with which the US President has shifted his geopolitical stance on the Ukraine issue is a clear indication that Trump is determined to reshape Washington DC’s ties with Moscow, Europe and the NATO member-countries. The absence of Ukraine and other European countries in the recent high-level meeting between Russia and the US (held in Saudi Arabia) on a ceasefire deal is an interesting development. President Trump has not only accused President Zelenskyy of triggering the war, but also advised the Ukrainian President to strike a suitable deal with the Kremlin in order to ensure peace!

About one-fifth of the Ukrainian territory is currently under Russian control because of the war and the Kremlin wants to occupy the land permanently. Speaking at an event at NATO headquarters in Brussels, US Secretary of Defence Peter Brian Hegset recently described Ukraine’s demand to return to its pre-2014 borders as “an unrealistic objective” and an “illusionary goal”. According to the Defence Secretary, the Trump Administration wants Europe to take full responsibility for Ukraine’s security.

President Trump also wants Ukraine to repay the US with 50% of its Rare Earth elements for the huge sums of money and weapons Washington DC has provided to Kiev so far. Interestingly, nearly 40% of these mineral-rich regions are situated in the eastern part of Ukraine which is currently occupied by Russia. Now, Russia may agree to export those minerals to the US in an attempt to put Ukraine (as well as Europe) under diplomatic pressure. Such a deal between Moscow and Washington DC may pose a serious threat to the sovereignty of Ukraine.

President Trump’s current stance on the Ukraine issue has raised concerns in Europe, too. The US President has hinted that he would raise tariffs on European countries. Such a move would certainly affect international trade. Right now, Europe cannot afford to snap ties with the US due to its over-dependence on the latter for financial and security reasons since the Second World War. In such a situation, European leaders are looking for a strategy to counter the US’ policy shift.

Meanwhile, the global community wants world leaders to ensure peace in Ukraine and Gaza, amidst geopolitical and economic crises. The economic sanctions recently imposed on different countries by the US have disrupted not only global trade, but also food supply, as well as energy security. Hence, a ceasefire (between Russia and Ukraine, and Israel and the Palestinian Hamas Movement) has become necessary in order to combat global inflation. There is serious doubt about whether the promise of a ceasefire could bring a lasting peace or lead to a new Cold War…

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Published by Koushik Das

Koushik Das (born on May 16, 1976 in Kolkata) is a career journalist. Based in the Indian capital of New Delhi, Koushik writes mainly about foreign policies and current geopolitical issues, and rarely about other topics. His own political ideas are highly influenced by Antonio Gramsci, Louis Althusser, Michel Foucault, Michael Oakeshott and others. English philosopher and political theorist Oakeshott (Dec 11, 1901-Dec 19, 1990) says that “in political activity, men sail a boundless and bottomless sea. There is neither harbour for shelter nor floor for anchorage, neither starting-place, nor appointed destination. But we have to keep afloat”. (Rationalism in Politics, 1962) As a student of Political Science, Koushik loves to share his views on issues, which have great impacts on his thought process (and also on India, South Asia and of course on the global community), with his readers through his website – Boundless Ocean of Politics. By doing so, he tries to keep himself afloat. You will find some of his articles in https://inserbia.info/today/ (https://inserbia.info/today/author/kou_das13_i/), as he has been trying to assess the global geopolitics since 2003. You can also mail him at kousdas@gmail.com View all posts by Koushik Das