EU seeking its role before Trump-Putin summit in Alaska

The planned meeting in Alaska between US President Donald Trump and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin has left Europe in a difficult position.

The European Union, like most European countries, is trying to prevent the collapse of the United States “trapped”, while supporting Ukraine diplomatically and preparing for more sanctions against Russia.

With no new diplomatic initiative, however, they find it difficult to secure a seat on the table as the fate of the continent seems to be in the hands of another capital.

It seems fair to say that Brussels has awakened from summer break with a hump on its forehead. Although few people believed the US would impose tough measures on Russia, no one has expected a higher summit between the two countries within days, considering it is first after more than four years.

Since the date of the meeting has been made public, European officials have been on a fever.

They have met with US Vice President JD Vance in Britain over the weekend, later the European bloc's foreign ministers have held a videoconference on 11 August, and on 13 August some European continent leaders, including Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelensky, will hold another phone call with Trump.

Some European officials with whom Free Europe Radio has spoken have said in terms that messages from Washington so far have been “caotic and that various factions within Trump administration have different objectives for the Alaska meeting.

Officials have said that different interpretations exist about who the epilogue of the Trump envoy's meeting, Steve Whitoff, was from meeting Putin in Moscow a week earlier.

Although they have admitted to being a little more relaxed after recent discussions, they still do not know for sure what to expect from Alaska.

EU red lines

Despite that, the EU has made it clear it has several red lines. European officials want a ceasefire before each discussion of eventual concessions on the Ukrainian side. It also has to include security guarantees for Kiev, and a way to monitor the truce should be established.

Some believe that Europeans should have a role in this regard, but are others in the same line? As for Ukrainian territory confiscated by Russia, Europeans are declared to support Kiev in any decision it makes.

For example, the EU will never recognise Ukrainian territory as Russian, following the example of Crime in 2014.

When it comes to withdrawing Russian troops from conquered lands, such as concession, some are skeptical if Moscow would respect that decision.

A diplomat has said Russian military troops have never withdrawn from Moldova's Transdnjester region, nor from occupied Georgian regions, Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Despite all the efforts of European states, the truth is that they've been put aside. Despite their insistence on being at the table on each subject of interest, so far there is no signal that their request will be approved.

This situation is quite contrary to that of the period 2021-22, before the start of Russia's war in Ukraine, when Europe has been fully engaged in negotiations with Moscow, NATO and other organisations.

Now, EU leaders are trying to be more recent. But they are threatening more sanctions against Russia, and the 19th round is being prepared. Although some of the punitive measures have upset Russia, they seem to have not thwarted political and military calculations in the past three years, reports REL, broadcast Periscope.

The frozen Russian assets worth over 200m euros in the European bloc can serve to increase the trade in negotiations, but only at a later stage when talks have progressed to the point that Russia agrees to pay off the damage caused in the war.

All sanctions are expected to continue in January 2026, and unanimity is needed to happen. Some EU diplomats have signalled that some measures could be suspended if Moscow shows readiness for a potential deal.

In Search of Guarantees
Earlier in the year, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have mentioned the idea of a <x0-force security” out of 20,000 European troops that could be deployed west of Ukraine.

Some European officials have said that it is still working on that plan, although they acknowledge there is much uncertainty, such as the rules of engagement and whether Americans will provide assistance, both intelligently or to transport large equipment.

Others believe NATO membership would be the only guarantee for the security of Ukraine, but there is no consensus in the military alliance either.

Currently, Brussels is making known its position through statements in which Hungary's signing has not been seen, which entails cracks in European unity.

Budapest, which has warm relations with the Kremlin, wants to organise a summit between the EU and Russia after meeting between Trump and Putin.

Hungary is already blocking the EU's goals for membership in the European bloc and rejects the deployment of other measures against the Kremlin. Budapest also risks blocking future financial assistance for Kiev.

Although it is now only in this challenging approach to Brussels, it may have soon societies if Washington and Moscow start making deals away from European heads. /Periscope/