English

Putin-Trump-summit: Concerned look from the Ukraine

Jul 15, 2018

459

The Meeting between Trump and Putin in Helsinki, many expect to see in Kiev worried. Are the two politicians, for example, to the Crimea over the heads of the Ukrainians?

The war in Syria and the US elections of 2016 to be at the top of the Agenda when Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump come early next week in Helsinki meeting. But the Ukraine conflict is the theme of the summit, when it comes to the U.S. President: Because the peoples would be illegal annexation of the Ukrainian Peninsula of Crimea by Russia as a result of the Maidan protests in 2014, and for the past four years, raging bloody war in the East of the country, in which Russian separatists and Ukrainians. That the Russian side is ready for it, is unlikely. Until now, power in the Kremlin in any case, always clear: as far as the Crimea, there is nothing to talk about. The Peninsula in the Black sea was “an inseparable part of Russia”.

But also the previous statements from Donald Trump to the Crimea to Kiev rather than worrying true: “We’ll see,” was recently the answer to the US President, when he was asked about the possibility that Washington could change its stance in this matter.

Clinging to the straw from Washington

Once had put Washington firmly on the side of Ukraine: in March 2014, i.e., immediately after the annexation of Crimea – they had introduced sanctions against Russia – the first country at all. Because of comprehensive US sanctions against companies and individuals in Russia are linked. For Kiev, is therefore essential, what is the Position of the US on the Crimea issue and the war in Eastern Ukraine, in Kiev is convinced that Moscow supports him. Even more than in the EU countries, growing up in Kiev, the concern is that in Helsinki over the heads of the Ukrainians across Ukraine is spoken.

Kiev hopes on the continued support of the United States

You remember very well trump the election campaign appearances of 2016, in which the current US President expressed his longing for “a very, very good relations” with the Kremlin rulers. And even if since the investigation due to Russia’s influence on the then election campaign Trumps rhetoric of Moscow, opposite quite was, think he is “friendship with Russia, China and other” today “well,” said the US President before his departure for Europe, where he met, especially his European partners at the NATO summit in Brussels.

Just no agreement with Putin

Out of concern for the future of the Ukraine-policy of the USA in Kiev turned, apparently as a precautionary measure, to Washington, to the Trump of hasty agreements at the summit with Putin. Thus, the Ukrainian President of the Parliament, Andriy Parubiy, recently expressed the hope that the United States would not change its stance in the Ukraine issue and referred to “the consistent support on the part of Congress and the White house”.

On the non-official level, at the same time tried to explore the mood in the White house in the run-up to the summit, reported the Reuters news Agency, citing Ukrainian diplomatic circles. They had apparently been looking urgently at the US-American colleagues after confirmation that Trump would have at the Meeting with Putin, Ukraine’s interests always in view.

More help for Kiev as the Obama

In Ukrainian observers look rather left to the forthcoming us-Russian summit. Reasons for optimism there are actually. In contradiction to its raised Putin-friendly attitude, it was, of all things, Donald Trump, and not his predecessor, Barack Obama approved this year, the first arms deliveries to Ukraine: anti-tank systems of type Javelin were from Kiev for the reinforcement of the army in the fight against the Russian-backed rebels in the Eastern Ukrainian Donbass.

The editorial recommends

Comment: Buckle Up! Hold on! Trump comes

NATO hopes that its most important member is causing too much damage to the summit meeting in Brussels Wednesday. Yes, as far as the TRANS-Atlantic ties are dropped, says Bernd Riegert. (10.07.2018)

Trumps friends and competitors

Donald Trump makes for irritation – again. Of all the upcoming Meetings in Europe that could be with his Russian colleague Vladimir Putin “the lightest,” said the US President. (10.07.2018)

Comment: summit – Putin wins, Trump

Now it is out On the 16th. July, want to meet US President Donald Trump and Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin in Helsinki. For Miodrag Soric is now clear who has more of it. (28.06.2018)

“Nord Stream 2 is coming, but the Ukraine-Transit will remain”

The Russian energy company Gazprom and the Ukrainian Naftogaz will have to agree to the continuation of Gas supplies through Ukraine to 2019, says energy expert Roland Götz. (04.07.2018)

Nevertheless, some Trumps good intentions in doubt in Kiev. Among them are Mykola Beleskow from the Institute for Euro-Atlantic cooperation in Kiev. He believes that the decisive Argument for the decision on arms supplies to Ukraine can not be the well-being of the US President, but a potential profit for American arms want to do. You, the business is likely to have contributed 47 million US dollars in revenue.

The role of the USA in the search for a peaceful solution to the conflict in the East of Ukraine took under Trump. A year ago, Washington called Kurt Volker of the special envoy in Ukraine. The career diplomat, particularly Russia’s critical attitude known. In his new function, he is not only have been already several times in the Ukraine. Several Volker has also met with Putin’s aide Vladislav Surkov, who is considered to be representative in Ukraine-questions in the Kremlin.

Pre-scanning is Flirting with Putin

And even if de facto there is still no tangible results of the diplomatic efforts of Volker, and the search for a solution in the Donbass war, as before, halts, and doesn’t really believe anyone in Kiev at the dramatic consequences of the Putin-Trump-meeting in Helsinki. Even vague Statements Trumps the Crimean issue could not mean more than one Approach to clarify what price Putin for the relaxation of relations with the United States would be willing to pay, says Mykola Kapitonenko from the Kiev International centre for perspective research. In addition, Trump in matters of Russia were tied to sanctions, in Many hands, he adds. Because the earlier in force, sanctions should be lifted in the United States only with the consent of the Congress. “The Kremlin understands this very well and therefore takes up Trumps ‘Flirting’ is not immediately at face value”.