Trump's potential return: Implications for Ukraine and rising tensions in Europe

Dr. Krzysztof Winkler, an expert on international affairs at the Warsaw Enterprise Institute, spoke about the potential triumph of Donald Trump in the U.S. presidential elections. He ventured a prediction on what such an outcome might mean, including for Ukraine.

The U.S. presidential elections will be held on November 5, 2024. Donald Trump is seeking to return to office. What could his potential triumph mean for Europe?

We would need to see exactly what the priorities of the new administration will be; however, I suspect that there will not be a complete withdrawal of the U.S.A. from Europe - said Dr. Krzysztof Winkler, an expert on international affairs, in an interview.

He then stated that from his administration, he would expect it to place a "greater emphasis on cooperation with Nordic countries, the Baltic States, Poland, and Romania, and less on cooperation with Germany and the Czech Republic."

The expert was also asked whether Trump could somehow end the war in Ukraine.

This promise to end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours is, of course, purely campaign rhetoric in Trump's style - he stated.

At the same time, he noted that after the approved package of 60 billion CAD, both Democrats and Republicans emphasized that this was the last such large support from the United States for Ukraine.

Dr. Winkler believes that there could also be an attempt to cut off aid and force Ukraine to "take a seat at the negotiating table with Russia" or "on the contrary - send such a large amount of equipment and supplies that the Russians will have to conclude that they cannot break Ukraine, which will lead them to peace talks."

I do not think that something like what is said in left-wing media, that Ukraine will be traded away, will happen - he concluded.