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The Telegraph: Trump Has Struck A Brilliant Blow Against Putin

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The Telegraph: Trump Has Struck A Brilliant Blow Against Putin
Photo: AP

The US President's plan incentivizes the EU to back up its words with deeds.

US President Donald Trump has announced plans to expand arms shipments to Ukraine, but at the same time make Europe pay for it. However, as The Telegraph columnist Richard Kemp writes, the idea faces criticism from Europeans.

"Trump's plan ... is brilliant, at least as a concept. It forces EU countries and the UK to back up their words with deeds, rather than allowing them to be relegated to empty statements like 'we would do more, but we just don't have the weapons.' It fits perfectly with his determination to shift much of the burden of solving its own problems onto Europe. And it should be beneficial to American voters, among whom further US funding of Ukraine's defense is unpopular," Kemp notes.

According to the publication, Trump has promised Ukraine Patriot, which will either be purchased directly from the United States or provided from NATO countries' own stockpiles with subsequent replacement. However, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has said that the first Patriot will be shipped to Ukraine in a few months, apparently implying that Berlin is not ready to hand over its own missile systems, the Observer notes.

It's clear that Germany should worry about its own air defense, Kemp notes:

"But his comments are an eloquent indication of where Europe's priorities still lie, despite the continent's alleged insistence that it is ready to do whatever it takes to win Ukraine."

In addition, Trump's proposed new secondary duty regime against countries doing business with Russia could also have a persuasive effect. However, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the 50-day deadline given by Trump to Putin for talks is "very long."

"Perhaps Kallas should impose EU secondary duties immediately rather than shouting criticism from the sidelines?", Kemp ironizes.

He emphasizes that Trump's latest gambit has a chance of success, assuming Putin believes the Europeans are serious about forcing Russia to the negotiating table.

"Unfortunately, they are not demonstrating that consistently. Do they really want to help Ukraine win the war or do they just want America to do it for them," the analyst summarizes.

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