Trump Falls For Europe’s Charm Offensive
On August 18, 2025, President Donald Trump is widespread during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders in the eastern room of the White House on the Washington DC.
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Europeans had a pilgrimage to Washington as soon as possible. The host was proud of his ability to collect President Donald Trump, an improvised peace summit with his Ukrainian counterparts. updated Fashion choices are compatible with what White House officials expect from visitors. First of all, they made Trump feel like the most powerful person on the planet.
Moreover, Trump took their feeds.
A week ago he was Trump announced That that he would meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska that Friday, European leaders met with an Avengers -like union to have the back of his country’s colleague Volodymyr Zelensky, whose country was occupied by Putin’s equipment more than three years ago. The leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Finland, and the European Commission and NATO’s presidents attraction attack He aimed to return to a support base that supports Trump against Russian fighters against the US ally. Only days ago, Trump praised what could be defined as a diplomatic defense for a ceasefire where Trump had moved away. In contrast, Trump did not rule Sending US forces To help defend Ukraine. For Europeans, things seemed to be as good as they could imagine. In fact, it seemed almost the most likely qualities in Trump’s Washington: normal.
Unlike Zelensky’s first trip to Trump’s first trip to the White House this period, none of the stage fighting for TV. While watching the world in February, Trump and Vice President JD Vance ambushed Zelensky continued to throw him and his delegation. He did it for the drama, but he wasn’t sure whether Washington would be in Kyiv’s supporter column. Since then, Trump has gently softened towards Zelensky, because Trump disappointed that he did not give an Offpram for a ruthless war that continued without pause at his meetings with Putin and Zelensky.
Trump is a famous unstable and shameless praise, even if it seems that most external observers seem to be thought of. Sycophancy is the ability to survive in the orbit of the president and knows the currency of the survivors. Trump and cabinet meetings are ultimately a tour of the chef that knows how to prepare with generous compliments for their bosses. Trump responds with a wide grin, as expected.
Zelensky, who learned his lesson after a disaster visit in February, came back on Monday when the rowing was withdrawn. Not only that, since Russia’s invasion of Russia in 2022, a completely black field jacket and a buttoned dress shirt has been traded for one of the preferred military wardrobe. From the very beginning, a wardrobe based on its whims has prepared the ground for a warmer welcome than Trump, who seems pleased to force the update.
To be clear: the United States – or really any rational government – does not have to decide on the strategy. Obviously, in the US security interests, the European countries are standing with an ally Ukraine against Russia, which occupies about one fifth of its neighbor. Europeans are rightly concerned that an expanding Russia, which is indifferent to the dominant borders, is a threat to post -Cold War norms. A powerful NATO alliance containing the United States is very important for the protection of Russia from metastasis after a creeping Soviet.
However, these global currents are less important for Trump than fragile ego. Thus, Europeans have traded geopolitical arguments for decades that have prevented Moscow’s cheap praise targets. For the time being, Trump seems to have worked on a tripartite summit with Ukraine and Russia on his way back as a referee.
“Everyone around this table wants peace,” French President Emmanuel Macron said to Trump. Like others, Macron said Trump has a unique ability to make a session in which this peace can be scored – the latest example of Macron’s unique ability among European leaders. Trump whisper.
The Europeans had clearly coordinated their approaches, and in eight different voices they were talking with a message.
“The next steps are more complex steps, ” said the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, openly with the landlord.“ I can’t imagine that the next meeting will take place without a ceasefire. Tr Trump said that the ceasefire was not necessary.
“If we buy a ceasefire, big, ” Trump replied. He also said that Zelensky and Putin would negotiate such a pause to the war.“ It does not happen from this moment on. “
Thus, it returns to a ranking order: first comes, a ceasefire or a three -sided meeting? This is the ongoing question even if meetings occur on the White House’s campus. But something was clear: the person who gave Trump the biggest ego support will probably stand out.
“I think you want to make a deal with me-you understand that? However, if Trump is true or just reflects there, it continues to be a matter of discussion. Considering the opportunity to put pressure on their chances, Europeans decided to push their praise comments that would not react instead. Ultimately, this strategy can protect Ukraine and solve the limits of the European map.
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To write Philip Elliott Philip.elliott@time.com.
