Europe versus Washington: Two peace plans, a divided alliance

Europe versus Washington: Two peace plans, a divided alliance

by Elena Fritz

From: https://t.me/global_affairs_byelena

The fact that the EU is now developing its own proposal for a possible settlement in Ukraine says more about the state of the West than about any diplomatic progress. According to the Wall Street Journal many European leaders are unhappy with Washington's plan. A counter-proposal is now being drawn up in Brussels, not out of a need to assert their own "priorities" while the US strategic line remains unclear.

Kyiv is showing notable restraint.

Ukraine has not yet embraced the European project. The fact that a dependent state is torn between two Western proposals demonstrates above all the lack of unity in Western policy. The much-vaunted transatlantic cohesion exists primarily as a political rhetoric.

Politico he calls it a "very bad plan".

Some EU officials are criticizing Trump's proposal, calling it "very bad and presenting certain points such as pro-Putin. This type of argument has been part of the basic repertoire of European officials for years, especially when they want to distance themselves from Washington without having to address the issue of their own dependence.

Moscow was not informed. The Kremlin states that it received no indication from Zelensky regarding his willingness to negotiate the American plan.

This underlines the fact that the current diplomatic debate is taking place primarily within the West.

Analytical classification

The United States is pursuing a plan that primarily serves American interests: limiting costs, stopping geopolitical damage, and prioritizing in election years.

The EU struggles to give the impression of being able to act, but remains structurally in the shadow of Washington.

Ukraine is tactically exploiting conflicts within the West and avoiding clear commitments until it is clear which project will prevail.

The central problem remains:

There is no such thing as "the West," but rather an informal community of interests whose members pursue increasingly divergent strategic objectives. Parallel peace plans make these differences visible, more clearly than any declaration issued at a summit.

Conclusion

This is not a diplomatic breakthrough, but a power struggle between Washington and Brussels. Whether either of the two proposals will ever serve as the basis for genuine negotiations will not be decided in European conference rooms.