Trump versus Europe?

A meeting between Trump and Putin is approaching. However, Europe, which has played a leading role alongside the U.S. in the Ukraine war, is completely excluded from the process. UWI author, historian and political scientist Associate Professor Mehmet Perinçek evaluated the current situation reveals about Zelensky and Europe.

How do you evaluate the upcoming meeting between Trump and Putin and Zelensky’s situation?

With Trump’s victory in the elections, it was clear that there would be certain negotiations between Russia and the US. Even before the elections, there were indications of various contacts between Trump and his team and Russia. As soon as Trump assumed office, the issue of Ukraine became one of his top priorities. In fact, during his election campaign, Ukraine was the foreign policy topic he emphasized the most.

We know that Trump, compared to other US administrations, has a more realistic view of the world. Faced with the resistance from China and Russia, Trump opposed to exhaust the resources and energy of the country in such confrontations.

Vance at the Munich Conference

The most crucial moment here was, of course, the direct phone conversation between Trump and Putin. Immediately afterward, the Munich Conference brought this agenda to the forefront in an even more urgent way. The speech by US’s Vice President Vance at the conference was quite programmatic. He made remarks that were sometimes mocking, sometimes sharp concerning Europe. It was a speech completely against Europe’s war policies. From a programmatic standpoint, he made an important statement that should be highlighted: “Europe’s enemy is not Russia, nor is it China. Your enemies are within”. Here, he was pointing to the war-mongering governments and highlighting the damage they were causing to Europe. Later, Trump also made an important statement regarding the same question. He said that he doesn’t consider Russia’s attack on NATO is a realistic trajectory. These signal a significant shift in US’s policy towards China and Russia.

Of course, the policies and alliances of the Biden administration from the previous period are also changing with Trump. The “soft power tools” that the US used, such as USAID which had fueled even armed uprisings as we observed in Maidan in 2014, are being dismantled by Trump.

No future for Zelensky

For Zelensky, the process of being “cast aside” has begun. It has started to be admitted that Ukraine will never be allowed to NATO, aid to Ukraine will be cut off and even the necessity of holding elections in Ukraine is being addressed. The Russian government has recently stated that Zelensky is not legitimate, claiming that by not holding elections, he actually has no authority and is simply the “former president”. We can now say that the US administration is approaching this stance as well.

Of course, all this indicates more than the Ukraine issue, it is about the creation of a new world order. On one side, a multipolar world is being established, and on the other the US has acknowledged that. Trump’s election can be seen as a sign of this shift.

Additionally, while Trump continues the trade war with China, it seems he will refrain from using military force and stepping up actions through Taiwan. This shows that the US is now accepting the realities of countries and poles in Eurasia as interlocutors setting to shape its policies according to the necessities of this multipolar world.

Why not Türkiye, but Saudi Arabia

Why will the Putin-Trump meeting take place in Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia, especially in recent times, has significantly developed its relations with Russia. It has established strong ties with China both commercially and militarily. So it is now a country that both Russia and the US can agree upon. Türkiye could also have hosted such a meeting, but after the Turkish government’s shift from its neutral position called as “policy of balance” after the election in 2023, with a greater alignment towards the West, its role in Syria, and the increasing support for Ukraine, the Turkish government has ceased to be viewed as neutral by Russia.

Common security understanding

It would also be inaccurate to think that the discussions in Saudi Arabia will focus solely on the Ukraine issue. The Putin-Trump meeting will mark the beginning of a process where a new global order will be discussed. They might reach an agreement on a common security understanding in many regions. While it’s not certain that Russia and the US will agree on every matter, the first steps towards establishing a new order will be taken. Of course, creating this new order is not possible with just talks between the US and Russia. Such a process cannot succeed without including countries like China, Türkiye, India and Iran. Yet, we can see this meeting as first step.

Used and discarded by imperialism

Zelensky wanted China to be part of the negotiations. Is that possible?

First, let me explain Ukraine’s position in the negotiations. Ukraine will be at the negotiation table, there can’t be negotiations without Ukraine. However, the issue here is this: Ukraine has no will of its own. Ukraine has not made any decisions so far, so there’s no way for them to on something during the negotiations. Therefore, no one sees Ukraine as a party or a power in this war and in the negotiations. This was clearly articulated by Trump for the first time. The US used Ukraine, and now that its usefulness is over, so it’s being discarded. This is the typical policy of imperialist states. This should be a lesson for everyone. We had seen a recent example of this in Afghanistan. If lessons had been learned from that, perhaps this war wouldn’t have reached this point.

Figures like Zelensky, who have been used and discarded, are now looking for a patron. Zelensky’s request to have China in negotiations is a reflection of this. However, China will certainly not respond positively to such a request. China is one of Russia’s biggest partners and one of the two major creators of the multipolar world in Eurasia. Zelensky’s demand is significant in terms of understanding the situation the Kiev regime finds itself in. It’s an expression of desperation.

“Globalists and the Biden Administration lost the war”

Looking at the current situation, who lost this war?

The biggest losers have been the globalists and the Biden administration. In fact, the recent elections in the US had showed this.

Now it’s Europe’s turn. The aggressive, war-mongering governments and countries in Europe are now facing the consequences. They will suffer for being dragged into the war following the US, Biden and the globalists. They have been completely sidelined and are in a state of panic. Vice President Vance’s speech at the Munich Conference was particularly striking. As I said, his criticisms weren’t limited to Ukraine. He criticized issues such as LGBT, how “European democracy” is essentially hollow, and how there is even a lack of freedom of expression in Europe. His mention of the cancellation of elections in Romania should also be noted.

Europe in panic

Europe has fallen into a serious crisis during this process. In Germany, France, and the UK, prime ministers keep changing, early elections are being held, and governments and budgets cannot be formed. In fact, it’s probably hard to even remember the names of the prime ministers who have changed in the UK in the last 2-3 years. Europe is in a systemic crisis politically and economically. The Ukraine policy has deepened and worsened this crisis. The energy crisis and production crisis are now constant topics of discussion. Factories are closing in Germany, and many companies are going bankrupt.

Yet, the leaders in Europe continue to insist on their policies. They are showing that they will persist in their mistakes, whether it’s about Ukraine or other areas where they have been criticized. For example, look at the statements of von der Leyen and Kaja Kallas.

On the other hand, significant changes will take place in Europe. The rise of Le Pen in France, the AfD and Wagenknecht in Germany, the Reform Party in the UK, the FPÖ in Austria, and Orban becoming more influential in European politics are signs of this.

European army?

The topic of a “European army” has come up again. What do you think about this?

The idea of a European army is not new. If this army were to be an independent, sovereign force that acts in its own interests, separate from the US and not an instrument of the globalist forces, then yes, it could be possible. However, as it is currently being planned, the European army seems more like an instrument of the globalist wing in the US rather than an independent sovereign army of Europe. They want to continue the war in Ukraine with this army. Also, in the documents and analyses related to this European army, there is mention of its potential role in the Eastern Mediterranean and against Türkiye.