Guardian: Trump's Deal With Putin Won't Change the War but Raises Pressure on Ukraine
A Guardian editorial assesses US President Donald Trump's approach to Russia's war on Ukraine. It argues that pressure on Kyiv and deals with Moscow will not fundamentally change the situation.
The British newspaper The Guardian has published an editorial analysing US President Donald Trump's stance on Russia's war against Ukraine. It appeared on the day Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Andy Burnham at Downing Street in London. The paper writes that Trump has again moved towards the view that Ukrainian capitulation is a precondition for peace. The piece is the newspaper's opinion rather than a news report.
Recent developments
According to the Guardian, Trump has in recent days called for a change of government in Ukraine. He also claimed that a partial ceasefire had been agreed, while Russia stepped up its bombardments. Zelenskyy has said the latest missile strikes came without the US intelligence warnings that had previously helped Ukraine defend itself. There are also reports that Ukrainian soldiers have lost access to the Starlink satellite network, which is controlled by US tech entrepreneur Elon Musk. The paper sees this as a possible sign of coordinated pressure in Russia's favour.
Energy prices and the deal with Russia
Trump is reportedly unhappy about Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries. He blames them for high energy prices in the US and for threatening Republican prospects in next month's midterm elections. To bring down fuel prices, he reportedly agreed a deal to import diesel from Russia, which the Guardian describes as a breach of international sanctions. In the paper's view, global energy prices are actually driven by Trump's failing war against Iran.
The British approach
The Guardian approves of Burnham declining to denounce the US president in public, instead making his case in private and reaffirming support for Ukraine. The editorial concludes that Russia is failing to achieve its war aims because the invasion underestimated Ukraine's will to resist. In its view, no collusion with Trump can fix that flaw.
