One of the most striking geopolitical reversals of recent years is unfolding before the eyes of the international community.
The American 28 point peace proposal to end the war in Ukraine functioned as a catalyst that exposed, more clearly than ever, the true intentions of all involved.
Moscow appears ready to negotiate despite having a clear military advantage, Washington is seeking a way out of a war of endless attrition, Kyiv is facing the most difficult week of its modern history, while Europe reacts with unprecedented anger and confusion.
The question now is simple: Who truly wants peace and who seeks the prolongation of the war?
Russia, the calm stance of the strong
Of all the sides that reacted to President of the United States Donald Trump’s plan, the most composed and institutionally clear was the Russian one.
Vladimir Putin publicly confirmed that Russia has received and is examining the full text of the proposal, discussions had begun even before the meeting in Alaska, the United States asked for flexibility from Moscow, acknowledging that they can no longer impose terms or artificial narratives about Russian defeat.
Russia is ready for substantive negotiations under the condition that the plan will be examined comprehensively and not selectively, with the necessary security guarantees on the table.
This stance is not a sign of political weakness. It is the stance of a power that:
1) Has military superiority on the front
2) Knows that time works in its favor
3) Has diplomatic confidence to enter negotiations without retreating from its core positions
The Trump plan is the first Western acknowledgment of the new reality
The American plan, as much as it was attacked by European media, contains basic assumptions that until now were considered taboo in the West.
1) Ukraine outside NATO, the obvious truth no one admitted
The provision that Kyiv will not join the Alliance simply confirms what was evident, the Europeans do not want to fight Russia. Therefore, no allied guarantee was ever truly real.
2) Army of 600,000 troops
A realistic size that ends Ukrainian ambitions for hyper militarization and permanent dependence on American funding.
The counterargument is that 600,000 troops are clearly far from the demilitarization Russia demands.
3) Avoiding recognition of Russian territorial gains but removing pressure to return them
Washington chooses a de facto rather than a de jure approach.
In other words, borders and reality on the ground are not reversed through wishful thinking.
4) Protection of minorities with EU criteria
A point that greatly irritated Kyiv, since it clashes with the Nazi oriented direction taken after 2014.
5) Use of frozen Russian assets
A controversial element with a clear aim: to finance reconstruction without burdening the American government.
Overall, the plan is the first serious Western admission that the war is not being won.
European panic, a war that must not end
The reaction of Europe was the most revealing moment since 2022.
Within two days, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer rejected the plan almost simultaneously.
At the same time, Germany began preparing a counterproposal while European media launched a massive campaign against the Trump proposal.
The headlines spoke for themselves:
1) Bloomberg: “New Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact”.
2) Politico: “Scandal”, “anyone who supports it needs a psychiatrist”.
3) NY Times: “Plan of surrender for Ukraine”.
4) Spectator: “Worse than the Minsk Agreements”.
This torrent shows something very simple: Europe does not want peace. It wants continuation of the war.
Europe wants perpetual war for 3 reasons
Why does Europe want war?
Primarily for political and economic reasons.
1) The European bureaucracy uses the war as a tool to rally and intimidate citizens
2) The war in Ukraine enabled massive defense spending, profits for arms industries and increased taxes and burdens on citizens in the name of “security”
3) For Europe, the end of the war means returning to competition with the United States, collapse of the European narrative of “Russian threat” and political weakening, even disappearance, of leaders who supported escalation
The furious reaction of Brussels is the strongest confirmation that the war is an investment for Europe.
Ukraine in crisis, Zelensky between the West and reality
Volodymyr Zelensky appeared publicly more anxious and uncertain than ever.
In his address he warned that Ukraine may “lose dignity or a key ally, the United States”, the “most difficult week is coming”, the nation must prepare for “difficult decisions”, and there is pressure from the United States “to accept the 28 requirements”.
This is unprecedented for a leader who until yesterday proclaimed certainty of victory.
His political position is also shaking, leaks show attempts to modify the plan to secure general amnesty, something that reveals fear of political prosecutions after the war.
Kyiv risks being left without American assistance, something that would make any continuation of fighting practically impossible.
The truth shines, Russia wants negotiations, Europe wants war
The paradox of the current geopolitical moment is clear.
Russia shows willingness for peace from a position of strength.
The United States seek an honest compromise to close a costly war.
Europe desires continuation of the conflict for its own political, economic and strategic reasons.
The EU is not only undermining the plan, it is undermining the possibility of peace in the continent.
The 3 paths
The situation appears to be heading toward one of three paths:
1) Ukraine signs, Europe is isolated
Ukraine accepts the plan under pressure.
Russia negotiates.
The EU is excluded.
2) Europe imposes its maximalist plans, the war continues
Deadlock, attrition, possible collapse of the Ukrainian front, capitulation of Kyiv and Russian triumph with full control over all of Ukraine.
3) The United States fully withdraw
Then Kyiv will have to do what it feared most, negotiate from a position of complete weakness.
The Trump plan exposed Europe’s bankrupt saboteurs
The Trump plan, regardless of its fate, revealed a major truth:
Russia is ready to negotiate seriously, the United States now admit a compromise is needed, while Europe and Kyiv are the ones who do not want peace because they depend on the war.
For the first time since 2022, the possibility of peace does not lie in the hands of Brussels but in an unusual, unpredictable understanding between Moscow and Washington.
And if this understanding manages to end the conflict, then history will record that where Europe failed, Russia and the United States found common ground, even if temporarily, to restore stability to the continent.
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