European leaders, in coordination with Donald Trump, are proposing a 30-day unconditional ceasefire starting 12 May
Ukraine and European leaders agreed on Saturday to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire from 12 May with the backing of US president Donald Trump, threatening president Vladimir Putin with new “massive” sanctions if he failed to comply.
The announcement was made by the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Poland and Ukraine after a meeting in Kyiv, during which they held a phone call with Trump.
Haven't Western nations already been applying significant sanctions to Russia? It's pretty clear that hasn't been working, why do they imagine that more of the same will work any better? Oh right, they don't, they just want to look like they're doing something useful.
No doubt, but as a mechanism of applying pressure to get them to stop invading Ukraine, I think you'll have to agree that it's failed miserably. That's what I (and most people) mean by 'working': accomplishing the intended aim. Huge problems or not, the war continues unabated. Why do you imagine doing more of the same would be any more effective?
Simply not reality focused. Hatred of Russia programmed higher than European security concerns that could be addressed if "root causes of conflict" (US puppeted provocation of war by Ukraine and supporters) are a basis for peace instead of treating ceasefire as opportunity to rearm and train the newly conscripted.
Just as Russia demands demilitarization of Ukraine, Europe needs to demand demilitarization of Russia to avoid their own military buildup at cost of social programs. Europe continuing to demonize Russia, including blaming ceasefire breakdowns as one sided, is not going to get them treated as human. Not that anyone cares, but prolonging the war is more destruction of Ukraine and less favourable peace.
Even if destabilizing Russia is a unanimous/axiomatic goal, there is greater opportunity through giving it peace, and forcing it to transition to a peacetime economy, instead of the massive success/growth it has generated, including exceptional wage growth, during the war.
There is a Russian counter ultimatum, that Trump has enthusiastically embraced as glorious peace breakthrough: Ukraine must go back to resume Istanbul peace talks this week.
It is so pathetic... I thought Russia was in maximum sanctions for 2 yrs already!
These "leaders" do know better though, they just generate these acts with the hope something will get posted on their heavily subsidized media (it has been a decade since any publication can survive without being subsidized).
Russia is desperate to move one, Ukraine still in their delusion, but coming to terms with the reality, US wants to move on and the EU (north only) wondering how to maintain the war flame alive for 4 yrs and hope for a new Biden in 4 yrs. It won´t happen, here, in the US, people are increasingly getting tired of the billions spend abroad even in Israel, let alone in Ukraine (even though it most of that aid is in US weapons and services that Ukraine pays with the funds the EU gives). But yes, Macron does care that Russian-speaking in Donesk that for 11yrs have been disposed of all representation, cut from all social services and bombed daily will rejoin Kyiv like nothing happended.
Countries like Baltic countries, Germany, Scandinavians and France (their leaders at least) are probably wondering if to simmer the drums till next US election, go all in themselves or change course with the head high. Europeans, rightly so, are not buying it and will not join any armed group even if constricted... and those leaders know it... so the dillenma is either to wait or how to get out. With Trump back, I was hoping, European leaders, in their highly antagonism to Trump, would reverse course, at least with Gaza... but not so... if Trump, does indeed reverse course... my gosh... The EU will be insignificant and a pariah in the global stage for decades to come.
As someone who publicly predicted Trump's wins in both 2016 and 2024 (I live in the most representative county there is!) I can tell you Americans are fed up with war expenditures abroad (even they do benefit the US in the short run!). Specially with the Ukrainian so, even if a Democrat would win in 2028, he/she would not pull off tens of billions on aid to any country... that, it is going likely to be a heavy issue in next elections and even demand a commitment no for massive aid packagers. I think they will even include Israel in the restrictions.