Alaska summit: will Europe's voice be heard?
In the run-up to Friday's Alaska summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, several European leaders participated in a video conference with the US president, laying out key points for possible peace talks, including a ceasefire based on the current front line and security guarantees for Ukraine. The media assess the chances of success.
US president remains the big uncertainty factor
La Stampa does not trust the peace:
“This is too good to be true. Donald Trump has agreed to act as spokesperson for the European and Ukrainian position in Anchorage [the venue of the US-Russia summit in Alaska] vis-à-vis Vladimir Putin. Friedrich Merz, who initiated the video conference with the key national leaders as well as the EU and Nato, and Emmanuel Macron are confident. ... But as always the big question is: what will Donald Trump do? What he said in the video conference is so vague that no one can answer that question.”
Play leading role rather than just prompting
Europe must not content itself with the role of assistant, Libération warns:
“The Europeans have been reduced to the role of mere spectators or even just prompters for Donald Trump - as they were before Benjamin Netanyahu destroyed Gaza - because they fear he won't be able to learn his text properly. ... However Europe, Ukraine's most important military buttress, has a number of aces up its sleeve, including two-thirds of the frozen Russian assets. If the continent succeeds in brokering a ceasefire behind the scenes, the maximum goal would already have been achieved. Perhaps it is time for it to take to the stage and finally play the role to which it is entitled.”
Europe will not be sidelined
The Europeans have plenty of say here, says Die Zeit columnist Matthias Krupa:
“Is Europe divided? ... Despite the doubts and discussions in many European countries, the bloc is surprisingly united in its stance vis-à-vis Russia. And things are similar when it comes to its dealings with Trump. ... Does Europe lack a strategy? ... Unlike Trump, Merz, Macron and Starmer have a fairly clear idea of how the war in Ukraine could be ended - and how it can't. Is Europe powerless? ... Trump may negotiate with Putin on a one-to-one basis on Friday, but if he is serious about achieving something he needs the Europeans' support. ... In the confrontation with Russia, Europe's leaders are showing greater resolve than ever before. The image of them being left on the sidelines can be forgotten.”
As submissive as during the Cold War era?
Europe is meekly submitting to Trump's will, writes Visão:
“It is highly likely that a 'solution' to the war in Ukraine will be found at the meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin - without any regard for the demands made by Europe or Kyiv. If this were to happen, it would be a return to the early days of the Cold War when Washington and Moscow dictated the rules and the others - in other words, the Europeans - listened and kept quiet. The reality is harsh. Having accepted Trump's blackmail tactics on tariffs, the Europeans have become more or less irrelevant to the US president.”
Trump saddling up his Trojan horse
Poland was represented in the video conference by its president Karol Nawrocki, whereas its prime minister Donald Tusk was limited to talking to other European leaders before and afterwards. Trump has ulterior motives for favouring Poland's new head of state, Gazeta Wyborcza suspects:
“The American side wanted President Nawrocki to attend the meeting instead of Prime Minister Tusk, saying that a president should speak to a president. ... Given the problems Viktor Orbán is currently facing in Hungary (his party is rapidly losing ground in the polls and new scandals are constantly coming to light), next year Nawrocki could be the only Trump supporter in Europe to still be holding political office. In other words, he'd be America's only Trojan horse in Europe.”