Trump's stance on Ukraine raises concerns across Europe

"'You know it’s nice to say they want their land back, but the cities are largely destroyed,' He suggested the Russian army may have spared Kyiv because the Kremlin eventually intends to use it or occupy it. 'They’ve done a lot of damage but relatively, compared to the other cities, it’s very little. But many of those other cities are gone, those beautiful towers, beautiful buildings that they had are now laying on their sides destroyed," Politico reports Trump saying.

When asked later whether he believes that Ukraine should give up its territories to Russia, he replied that he will "let them know after the first meeting" with Vladimir Putin.

"We'll be talking to President Putin, and we'll be talking to the representatives, Zelensky and representatives from Ukraine," Trump said

The president-elect's words came before Thursday's European Union summit, which is set to focus on security and prepare the Union for Trump. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, NATO Chief Mark Rutte will speak with representatives of countries engaged with Ukraine.

“In Poland and Ukraine, within government circles, there is a belief that Trump does not have a clear plan to end the war. The Republican leader echoes certain ideas of Keith Kellogg, his envoy for Russia and Ukraine, but lacks his own guiding principles. Moreover, Trump's repetition of Russian diplomatic clichés is concerning,” says Zbigniew Parafianowicz, journalist of "Dziennik Gazeta Prawna," reporter, and author of books on Ukraine.

Wirtualna Polska's source highlights Trump's remarks at a press conference. “He suggested that Ukraine has lost parts of its territories to Russia due to destruction. Even if, as in the case of Bakhmut, the scale of destruction is indeed enormous and rebuilding will be challenging, the message implies Kyiv must accept this definitively. In Europe and Ukraine, they are aware of the destruction's scale, but publicly, no one discusses it, except perhaps Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban,“ emphasizes Parafianowicz.

In his view, this approach weakens Ukraine's negotiating position in potential talks with Moscow.

“Trump, in essence, has started talking like Russia's permanent representative to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya. On Tuesday, he acknowledged during a UN Security Council meeting that Russia is willing to negotiate but only with those ready to 'accept reality and end the war.' Trump should not fulfill such expectations,” states the journalist from "DGP".

Parafianowicz argues that both Europe and the USA should aim to increase pressure on Russia.

“Regarding the negotiating stance, the matters are not straightforward, and Trump is not helping. Especially for NATO's eastern flank countries, including Poland, who are interested in maximizing costs to Russia, such as increasing sanctions or continuing to arm Ukraine. Situations in Syria or Sub-Saharan Africa show that Putin is struggling there. Further weakening Russia should be in Trump's interest,” believes Wirtualna Polska's interlocutor.

However, he simultaneously admits, the US president-elect may change his approach to ending the war multiple times.

“If humiliated or somehow defeated by Putin, being an egocentric and narcissist, he will persistently do the opposite of what he currently does. He will continue to arm the Ukrainian army. Trump is a businessman. Firstly, he will prioritize US interests. For this reason, Ukraine is not currently planning long-term strategies for the coming months of the war. With such a president in the White House, rational planning is improbable,” emphasizes Zbigniew Parafianowicz.

At Monday's conference, Trump admitted that resolving the conflict would be challenging. He expressed his disapproval of Joe Biden's decision, which allowed Ukraine to use American ATACMS ballistic missiles against targets inside Russia. He claimed that this decision "brought the Koreans," when it was actually a response to North Korean soldiers' involvement in the war.

“Why did they do it without asking me what I think? I wouldn't have allowed it. I think it was a significant mistake,” he assessed. When asked whether he would reverse this decision if he returns to power, he said he might.

According to Zbigniew Parafianowicz, these statements undermine US policy toward Ukraine and disrupt continuity.

“A similar opinion was expressed on social media by his son, as he arranges his thoughts. Trump should not speak this publicly. It also undermines Western military support for the Ukrainian army and again weakens Kyiv's negotiating position,” assesses the expert.

As he emphasizes, Trump himself must decide whether he wants the USA to be perceived as an unreliable partner or a guarantor of security.

“If the United States forsakes Europe as an ally, it risks losing credibility as a guarantor of global order. And not just on our continent, but also in the view of Taiwan, South Korea, or Japan. Doubts will arise. This means countries with potential and resources may initiate nuclear programs and manage their security independently,” says WP Parafianowicz.

In his opinion, Poland also has a role to play.

“Firstly, we will assume the presidency of the European Union at the start of next year. From this position, we will engage with Trump. Secondly, there is an opportunity to capitalize on President Andrzej Duda's good relations with the American leader. There is still time to conclude his second term at the Presidential Palace with a strong impact,” the expert concludes.