Trump’s meaningless surrender to Putin is a betrayal of Ukraine – a terrible formulation Timothy Garton ash

DUnald Trump’s recovery for Vladimir Putin makes Neville Chamberlain look like a realistic and brave realistic. At least Chamberlain was trying to prevent a major European war, while Trump was behaving in the middle of one. Trump “Munich” (synonymous with the English language with a deal in 1938 in which Britain and France sold Czechoslovakia to Nazi Germany) on the eve of the Grand Security Conference in the Bavarian capital today, where his products will meet its Western allies. The Munich Security Conference should be the beginning of a decisive European response, and learning from our tragic history in order to avoid its recurrence.

The next step that Trump suggests is actually a new “Yalta” (referring to the USA Obia summit in February 1945 at the Crimea Resort in Yalta, which has become a synonym for the great powers that decide the fate of European countries on their heads). In this case, his suggestion is that the United States and Russia must decide the fate of Ukraine with a marginal if there is an involvement in Ukraine or other European countries. But this time, the occupations of the White House and the Kremlin must meet first in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, then in their capitals, while it seems that the actual Yalta, in the Crimea, must be waived for Russia. Because in the new world of Trump and Putin, May is the right and regional expansion is what the great powers do, whether Russia is for Ukraine and the United States to Canada and Greenland – or China to Taiwan.

All historical analogues have its borders and those who suffer from “Munich” and “Yalta” have been excessive. But here, once, they feel that they feel the subject – as long as we highlight the differences as well as similarities.

For a few weeks after Trump’s election, we had hope that when it came to Ukraine, his administration will follow its declared slogan “peace through power”, and understanding that power is the only language that Putin understands. Now we see that Trump not only frightens his country’s friends, but also absorbs his country’s enemies.

This alleged powerful man is actually a weak man when it comes to confronting hostile tyranny in this world. Only one day, he made four large and unnecessary concessions. First, no exploratory talks with Putin did not start only via an intermediary, which would be defense, but personally gave the recognition of the Russian dictator with Popsium and Sikovantic as a global leader. “We both have been reflected on our great history,” he said about his long phone call, in a Social media yet. They discussed “the great benefit that we will one day do at work together. But first, as we agreed, we want to stop millions of deaths in the war with Russia/Ukraine.” Imagine if in 1941, rather than entering the war against Nazi Germany alongside Britain and European countries Other alliance is a common end “War with Germany/Britain”.

Second, the Russian leader offered a bilateral negotiation of the United States to the Ukrainian presidents, a type of new Yalta that Putin always wanted. After that, the third and fourth, announced that Ukraine will definitely have to waive the lands and that the United States will not support its membership in NATO. Both these two things were said in Washington and other Western capitals for some time, but they publicly recognize the introduction is a master’s degree in how no To practice the “art of the deal”. (He did something similar in negotiations with the Taliban on Afghanistan, where he started instead of ending a timetable for withdrawal.) Historians now have notes and memories close to Hitler, by documenting his joy in the deal he made from Chamberlain. One day, we may have similar evidence to Putin’s special privilege of Trump’s privileges.

This does not mean that there will be anything worthy of the name of peace anytime soon. The first public readings of Karmlin from Trump Putin’s invitation were significantly cautious, warning that “it is necessary to settle the causes of the conflict.” Putin’s ideal scenario is likely to be maintaining talking about peace with Trump, through a series of comfortable summits in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United States and Russia, while Russia continues to move on to unity in other ways. (He was asked about Ukraine’s involvement in the talks, Trump mentioned the need for presidential elections there, and thus prostitution of a Russian attack line on the legitimacy of President Voludmir Zelinsky.)

There is a big difference between Europe at the time of Munich and Yalta, and Europe is now. Europe today is rich, free, democratic and an integrated society closely from partners and allies. Yes, as the polling made by the European Council for Foreign Relations explains again, it is also Divided and confused About the best way to move forward in Ukraine. But with a sufficient alliance of desire and power, including Britain, Europe is still able to enable Ukraine to install the front lines, and to stick economically and eventually negotiate strength, not weakness. For this reason, the Munich Security Conference at the end of this week should be the beginning of the European Repuster of Trump Munich.