According to the news of the British Prime Minister's Office on October 21, Ukrainian President Zelensky, British Prime Minister Stammer, German Prime Minister Meltz, French President Macron, Italian Prime Minister Meloni, Polish Prime Minister Tusk, Portuguese President Costa, Norwegian Prime Minister Sturgeon, Finnish Prime Minister Stubb, Danish Prime Minister Fraser Rickson, Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez, Swedish Prime Minister Christensen and European Commission President Von der Leyen issued a joint statement on the same day.
The core item in the statement was that everyone nodded in agreement with Trump's proposal of "an immediate ceasefire and using the current contact line as the starting point for negotiations."This may sound ordinary, but it is actually a U-turn in Europe's position. You must know that although Europe aided Ukraine in the past, it has always been vague on territorial issues and has never clearly confirmed the current front line.
What's more intriguing is that Zelensky's attitude, just a few days ago he also shouted "to take back all the territory", resulted in the 17th with Trump in the White House, the attitude was softened,Even the press conference can only be held by setting up an "open-air stall" outside the White House, and on the spot, he let go and agreed to talk according to the contact line.
There are also two tough tricks in the statement: The first is to reiterate that "international borders cannot be changed by force." This is clearly a principle, but in fact it is to label Russia and find reasons for subsequent additional sanctions; the second is to bluntly say that "we are studying using frozen Russian sovereign assets" and use these money to Ukraine as "military and living expenses."
The EU has long been breathing the trick, and it is said to be drafting proposals to turn frozen assets directly into aid funds for Ukraine.
More importantly, this statement just got stuck after Putin and Trump finished the phone conversation. When the two had a phone call before, Putin mentioned that "Ukraine will give up Donbass in exchange for peace." Now Europe collectively says "talk along the line of contact." On the surface, it is a response to peace talks, but in fact it is a bottom line-do you want Ukraine to give up more land? No way. This is like kicking the ball back to Russia, forcing the Russian side to either compromise, or bear greater sanctions pressures to continue fighting.
On the same day that Ukraine issued a statement, the White House suddenly said that The originally scheduled meeting between the heads of state of the United States and Russia in Budapest was "shelved" on the grounds that Trump felt "there was no need to waste time".But as soon as he finished speaking, the Russian side backed up. The Kremlin said that "preparations are still underway." Even the presidential special representative posted a post on social media confirming the matter. This push and pull is all evidence that the United States and the West do not want to negotiate.
To make this clear, we need to review the timeline. On the 16th, Trump and Putin talked on the phone for two and a half hours and excitedly announced that they would meet; on the 17th, he rushed to put pressure on Zelensky and forced Uzbekistan to accept the ceasefire. In the end, Zelensky refuted him. Back, the two broke up in discord;
The conversation between U.S. Secretary of State Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov was a real turning point.Lavrov stated on the phone that Russia's position remains unchanged, either recognizing Russia's control of the entire Donbass, or abstaining from talks, and absolutely not accepting the "first ceasefire, then talk", and moreover ensuring that NATO does not send troops to Ukraine.
The Russian side’s attitude is equivalent to a direct rejection of Trump’s “armistice” plan.Trump knows very well that if he does go to a meeting, he will definitely have empty talk like the Alaska Summit in August, and will ruin his "mediator" brand.
Instead of being ashamed of no results, it's better to put it on hold first, and put the hat of "unwilling to talk" on Russia.But Russia is not fooled, insisting that it is "still preparing" is to let the outside world see: it's not that Russia doesn't want to talk, but that the US is making excuses.
The idea behind this is really simple. The United States and the West have no intention of a real ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. After all, as long as Ukraine is at the front, it can continue to consume Russia.NATO is already coordinating European countries to buy weapons from the United States to deliver to Ukraine, and the EU will hold a summit on 23rd to consider new sanctions on Russia.
On the other hand, shouting “armistice” is busy delivering weapons, adding sanctions, and playing “two hands”:It is best to force Russia to make concessions. If you can't force it, you will continue to waste time. Anyway, it is Russia and Ukraine that are injured. The United States and the West only need to pay for weapons.
Whether it is a joint statement by the U.S. and the European Union or the suspension of the U.S.-Russian summit, it is essentially the old way that the U.S. West is “consuming Russia” that is escalating.What they want is not "just peace", but a fatal blow to Russia's vitality and completely solve this "confidant trouble".
Let's first look at Europe's calculations. In recent years, Europe has provided more than US$200 billion in aid to Ukraine. A lot of money has been spent, but it has not benefited at all. On the contrary, due to sanctions against Russia, its energy prices have soared and its industry has been damaged. Now that Trump is tough on a ceasefire, Europe cannot withstand it at all-if the United States stops aid, they cannot fill the hole at all.
However, the ceasefire is not willing, so they made such a statement: the surface supports the ceasefire, in fact, by adding sanctions, using Russian assets to help Ukraine, the "consumption war" in a different form to continue to fight.
The United States 'calculations are more precise. At one moment, Trump shouted "We will help Ukraine win back all its territory," and at the next moment he forced Zelensky to cease fire. His attitude was very wavering. The core goal was one: Turn the Russia-Ukraine peace talks into his own "diplomatic achievements."
Moreover, the United States has long benefited. It is said that it has taken the custody of state-owned enterprises in Ukraine, as well as the mining rights of various minerals and oil and gas. As long as the ceasefire is suspended, it can quickly realize these benefits and earn back the previous aid money. As for Russia, it is best to consume until the defense industry collapses and the economy collapses, and then you don't have to do it to become "soft tomatoes".
In this situation, the so-called "ceasefire" is just a cover.The Ukrainian army is also bombing Russian chemical factories, hitting Russian fuel bases with "Shadow of Storm" missiles; the Russian army has not stopped, like air strikes on Kiev.
The "strengthening sanctions" and "using Russian assets" in the Ukrainian statement are all tricks to put a rope around Russia's neck. When Russia is almost exhausted, the United States and the West will join forces to exert pressure, either forcing Russia to accept harsh peace conditions, or using more ruthless means to suppress it. This is the true meaning of the "fatal blow".
Zelensky’s statement that “preparations are made to end the conflict” is indeed nonsense. Everyone wants peace, but who will bear the price of peace? Russia does not want to lose territory, Ukraine does not want to give up land, and the United States and the West do not want to stop consuming. The contradiction between these three parties has not been resolved. No matter how many statements are made and many summit tests are made, they will only prolong the conflict longer。In the end, it is the ordinary people of the two countries and the global economy, which has been dragged down by sanctions and war, that ultimately pays the bill.
European leaders issue joint statement supporting Russia's ceasefire through negotiations