Trump’s potential threat to European freedom and Ukraine conflict
Will Donald Trump betray the European "ideas of freedom"? The former President of Germany thinks it's possible. Joachim Gauck also believes there could be an end to the Ukraine-Russia war, but "it won't necessarily be a just ending."
The interview with Joachim Gauck was conducted by RTL reporter Philipp Sandmann, who published it on his blog. The primary focus of the conversation was Donald Trump's policy toward Ukraine, as well as the approach of European leaders to the Ukrainian-Russian conflict.
The former President of Germany believes the scenario of ending the war is "not necessarily just." He emphasizes that if Russia achieves all its goals, then the United States won't bring peace, but "surrender."
"If the United States under President Trump withdraws from responsibility, yielding to the aggressor and forcing the victim to surrender, Trump will betray the idea of freedom," Gauck believes.
The German politician also criticizes Trump for blaming Ukraine for the outbreak of the war. He stresses that "the American President should finally start playing the strength card."
"Putin will realize that he cannot win this war—militarily, economically, or politically," the former President of Germany, serving from 2012 - 2017, explains.
Meanwhile, the German politician expresses concerns about the development of relationships between Western politicians and Russia. In his opinion, "Europe and Germany will return to the old reflex: the principle of hope" and will trust in restrained diplomacy toward Russia. Gauck also voices concern that Europe is still too weak both militarily and emotionally to defend itself against Putin's dictatorship.
"The NATO alliance that used to protect us has not been reliable since Donald Trump's time. Anyone who doesn't see this confuses the present with the past. And anyone who doesn't draw consequences from this awareness acts carelessly," added the German politician.
