Peter Pomerantsev: Europe must take up the fight against the United States
Russia and the United States will come together and destroy Europe. It has been the message in Russian propaganda during the winter.
Donald Trump’s « Peace Plan » for Ukraine is not supposed to make the Russian propagandists sad. In Europe, the analyzes have rather been that the document is close enough to be a betrayal against Ukraine. This can mean the introduction to an active Russian-American campaign against Europe. Putin’s dream must feel close.
Two things are at least clear.
The first is the US recognition of Russia’s annexation of Crimea. This means that they no longer believe in the idea of inviolable national borders. If you can take something – then you own it too. When Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in 1990, the United States began a war against him. But now the opposite applies. It is an open invitation to nations around the world that invasions will not be punished – and the spread of nuclear weapons can increase as many nations are now being forced.
Trump’s new posture is Particularly ominous in view of his obsession to incorporate Greenland. Consequences are not just about the United States confirming the expansive plans of others. It is because the United States obviously has its own.
Trump has previously expressed that Putin’s annexation of Crimea is « brilliant » and « smart ». Like Russia in Crimea, the United States has a base in Greenland with a military squad that can be used if needed. The White House has expressed doubts about Denmark’s historical claims in Greenland and whether the Greenlanders really want strong ties to Copenhagen. This type of propaganda is not essentially different from the one that the Russians used before the annexation of Crimea 2014.
« Trump’s pressure on Ukraine to accept Russia’s annexation of Crimea is deeply worrying for both Denmark and Europe, » said Jacob Kaarsbo, an analyst who has worked for 15 years in the Danish intelligence service. « Trump does not even respect sovereignty even in allied countries like Denmark. »
That’s exactly how the Russian propaganda looks at Trump’s intentions. Or as the most well -known representative in the campaign, Vladimir Solovjov, expressed the matter: « I look forward to when Trump goes to war against Europe. It will give me great joy. »
Here’s how it can be: Greenland is annexed, NATO is split, the EU is weakened and a trade war between the US and Europe begins.
Solovjov is not wrong when he says the Trump administration considers Europe as an economic enemy. When Trump threatened with high tariffs, he said the EU was formed to make life miserable for the United States. The techoligarks that support Trump are upset by Europe’s regulations and taxation of the new technology.
Now Trump threatens to lift all sanctions against Russia as part of the peace plan. It will put the EU – who will keep them – on a collision course with the United States. The plan also contains a promise of a new start in American-Russian cooperation in the energy sector.
If Trump’s peace plan is accepted, Europe and US will be enemies. Then the goal of Russia and the US becomes to crush the EU’s ability to pursue an independent economic policy. Russia is already doing so by supporting European politicians and populist movements that want to weaken the EU. Now the US may be doing the same. Germany’s Chancellor has already accused the United States of interfering with the country’s domestic policy by expressing its support for the outer right AfD, which is backed up by Russia.
Donald Trump’s Peace Plan can is interpreted as a deeper consensus between Moscow and Mar-A-Lago-not just a tactical trick. There, a new world appears where the powerful nations – read the United States and Russia – decide on its fate. Trump and his followers may think it is a good and fair peace, in the sense that submission is the only thing that remains for states such as Ukraine, Denmark and Canada. The fact that Europe was excluded from the negotiations shows how irrelevant our nations have become in the eyes of Russia and US.
But this arrogance can be a tragic mistake. We no longer live in a 19th century world when some big powers could easily dominate the smaller ones. The US failure with the new customs policy shows with all desirable clarity what Hybris can do.
If only the will exists can Europe put its own agenda. We can continue to support and arm Ukraine. We can defend our continent from American and Russian disruptive. But it assumes that we collaborate on weapons production and hybrid attacks.
Europe can push Russia to create a fair peace. After all, access to the European market is what matters most to Russia – but not to the United States.
We have strong cards in hand. Time to play them out.
Overs. From English: Jan Eklund
Peter Pomerantsev is a British journalist and writer, born in Ukraine. His latest book in Swedish is « Winning an Information War » (Word Front, 2024).
Read more:
Trump wants to give off Crimea to Putin – that’s why the peace meeting was stopped
