WITHIN 10 minutes of his call with US President Donald Trump this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed his military to halt all attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.

That is how determined both Trump and Putin are apparently eager to bring an end to the war in Ukraine, which Trump vows would never have started had he been in the Oval Office.

The meeting between the two presidents of the leading nuclear nations lasted more than two hours. It was the second known official engagement between the pair since Trump became the 47th US president on January 20. The cordial call evidently removed yet more hurdles on the road to a lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia, and by extension, Moscow and the West.

Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy to the Middle East, listened in throughout the telephonic meeting between Trump and his Russian counterpart. Visibly delighted by the way the telephone discussions went, Witkoff described the call simply as “epic”, adding that the two leaders were in “sync with one another”.

Within a day of the Trump-Putin call, one of the first borne fruits was harvested. It was the “175-for-175 prisoners of war swap”. Goodwill between warring sides often starts in baby steps. But then again, the most difficult part of any peace deal is the very start itself.

Trump is understandably upbeat about progress made thus far. Attainment of peace in Ukraine is his top priority, an electioneering promise. A day after his telephone meeting with Putin, he held an encouraging hour-long similar meeting with the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky. As soon as he dropped the call, Zelensky posted on social media about how optimistic he felt about the illusive peace.

I paint this picture to illustrate the common view of all the major protagonists in the conflict—the US, Russia, and Ukraine. Once the three main players are on the same wavelength, I think no amount of European warmongering will scupper the path to peace.

Some sceptical Western media continue to cast aspersions over the progress made thus far. Yet, if truth be told, the media has no seat at the negotiating table and can only report on what transpires or interpret the developments as they unfold. One thing remains crystal clear: Russophobia runs too deep in Western media and capitals alike. But Trump 2.0 is turning the whole culture of hate and mistrust on its head.

And as he surges on regardless, Trump is leaving European warmongers in his wake, reeling in disbelief, and confused. In the coming days, the US and Russian technical teams will meet in the capital of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, to “discuss the implementation of the partial ceasefire”, according to Trump’s national security adviser, Michael Waltz. Inevitable peace looms large.

Conversely, Europe is creating impediments and hurdles. Led by the likes of the UK and France, they are desperately attempting to put together a so-called Coalition of the Willing, a military force to be deployed in Ukraine to guard against a perceived future Russia attack on Ukraine.

Europe has failed dismally to engage constructively with Russia during an elongated period preceding the outbreak of the conflict in February 2022. Russia had complained bitterly about the expansion of Nato to its doorstep, arguing such expansion was a bridge of Nato’s historical undertaking never to stretch its presence to Russia’s borders.

Moscow, having profusely recorded its reservations and explaining that Nato on its doorstep posed an existential threat, decided to go on the offensive in Ukraine. As they say, the rest is history, a messy history that Trump, to his credit, has set his focus and energy on resolving before it degenerates into a third World War.

The truth is that Trump has long made up his mind about the current crop of Europe’s leadership. They do not seem to appreciate the apocalypse that could be triggered by a nuclear war between Russia and the US-led West. So, much against the wishes of the dominant globalists across the West, Trump is focusing his attention on the US’s foreign policy interests, based on his Maga agenda characterised by the dictates of America's First blueprint.

One thing becomes rapidly crystal clear though: Europe will be left way behind if the bloc’s main role players are averse to smoking a peace pipe with Moscow. The train has already left the station and will not return to fetch those it left behind. Someone opined that Europe must wake up to the emerging geopolitical reality. If Europe is not sitting at the dinner table, Europe will be on the menu!

As Europe mulls over what to do next to keep alive hostilities with Russia, the daily actions of the Trump administration show just how wide the schism is growing. Following the Trump-Putin call, the White House instructed the entire administration, including leadership of the State Department, Pentagon, and CIA, to engage in contacts with Russia, according to special envoy Witkoff.

He confirmed that negotiating teams of the US and Russia are en route to Riyadh to advance the rapidly moving peace talks. Nothing could illustrate much better how the train is in motion, and moving pretty fast. The Trump administration is truly ushered in the end of the “Russia threat” narrative.

Witkoff also revealed that the US and Russian Presidents will likely meet in the Saudi capital soon. “I can’t speak for them, but my best bet would be that it’s likely to happen,” Witkoff was quoted as saying.

Another unfolding reality that will surely rattle Europe was Witkoff’s remarks on the possible easing of economic sanctions against Russia. He said: “We want to get to the ceasefire. That’s the president’s policy. And we’re going to get to the ceasefire, and I think after that, everything else will be a detail, sanction relief, and all the other things that go with a full-on peace treaty.”

All these turbo-charged developments from this week alone point to a process that could be irreversible within the wink of an eye. Europe’s role as the perennial bridesmaid of the US is coming to haunt the bloc as a collective.

Since the end of World War II in 1945, Europe has been content to play second fiddle to the US. The EU has been content with the US as the undisputed commander-in-chief of Nato, and biggest financier. Only now talk of increasing the defence budget to between 3% and 5% of the GDP throughout the EU is audible.

I’ve previously argued that Europe’s foreign policy is based on the notion of monkey-see, monkey-do. And now that an anti-globalist is the new sheriff in the White House, the structural architecture of Europe is crumbling, sending the entire continent on a tailspin.

* Abbey Makoe is the founder and editor-in-chief of Global South Media Network (www.gsmn.co.za). The views expressed are personal.

** The views expressed here do not reflect those of the Sunday Independent, Independent Media, or IOL.

geoplitical dynamics

How Trump's engagement with Russia challenges European policies