In an interview with the Spanish outlet El País, Marianna Fakhurdinova, Coordinator of the EU-Ukraine Partnership Program at the Transatlantic Dialogue Center (TDC), assessed President Trump’s latest remarks on Ukraine.
“Tactically, it’s a significant win for Ukraine that President Trump has, for now, shifted from blaming Ukraine for the war with Russia to highlighting Ukraine’s potential in the war. At the same time, President Trump is known for being inconsistent in his communication and sentiments. Therefore, this statement should be viewed with cautious optimism and not immediately regarded as a strategic shift in the US position.”
Fakhurdinova emphasized that this rhetoric will only signal a true policy change once other key American figures, such as Marco Rubio or Pete Hegseth, begin voicing similar positions. For Trump’s words to gain credibility, the United States should also demonstrate consistency through actions: continuing to sell weapons for Ukraine to Europeans under the PURL initiative, imposing stronger sanctions on Russia and its shadow fleet, and re-engaging politically in UDCG meetings.
At the same time, she noted that Washington has repeatedly underlined its intention to reduce strategic involvement in Europe. Against this backdrop, the EU must not misinterpret Trump’s positive messaging as a lasting guarantee. Instead, Europe should take seriously the need to strengthen its own defense capacity, integrate Ukraine into it — including through initiatives like SAFE — and maintain a calm but firm dialogue with the United States.
Read the full interview in El País: https://shorturl.at/pTr6S