Trump sidesteps pressure on Putin, tensions for Ukraine rise
The echoes of Tuesday's conversation between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are still resounding. The Danish newspaper "Berlingske" suggests that Trump "lacks the courage" to apply pressure on the Russian leader. "Trump's conversation with Putin can be seen as an additional threat to Ukraine," the newspaper writes.
"Berlingske" points out that Russia demanded that the West cease providing military support to Ukraine and that the Ukrainian military stop receiving intelligence information. "Berlingske" comments that Putin "acts as though Ukraine is attacking Russia, rather than the reverse."
The newspaper criticizes Trump for lacking the courage to pressure Putin, yet simultaneously pursuing an aggressive trade policy against European allies.
"Trump apparently does not have the courage to pressure Putin, but he does pressure his ally, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. At the same time, it is illogical and aggressive for the U.S. to initiate a trade war with its European friends while avoiding applying economic, political, and military pressure on Russia" - we read.
"Microscopic step." The newspaper evaluates Trump's agreements with Putin
The newspaper likens Tuesday's conversation between Trump and Putin to the Munich Agreement of 1938, when Adolf Hitler and British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain agreed to annex part of Czechoslovakia to the German Reich without involving the Czechoslovak authorities.
Conversely, the 30-day suspension of attacks on energy infrastructure, "Berlingske" describes as a "microscopic step" towards peace.
"The conversation between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin could be interpreted as a new threat to Ukraine. Europe's best response to this should be to increase its defensive capabilities by purchasing weapons," the newspaper concludes.
