Trump Shatters Europe’s Illusion of Unity with the U.S. on Ukraine Ceasefire Plan
For a brief 30 hours, European leaders believed they were aligned with the United States on a joint ultimatum to end the war in Ukraine. Then Donald Trump changed everything.
On May 10, the leaders of France, Germany, the UK, and Poland gathered in Kyiv for a show of solidarity with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Their goal: push Moscow to accept an unconditional 30-day ceasefire.
During the visit, the four European leaders held a 20-minute phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump. British sources described the exchange as “warm,” and shortly after, all five nations appeared united in a message: a ceasefire must begin by May 12, and if Russia refused, it would face new sanctions and increased military support for Ukraine.
Trump publicly endorsed the ceasefire proposal, and his envoy for Ukraine, retired General Keith Kellogg, echoed the call. For a moment, it seemed like a rare moment of transatlantic unity after months of distance between Trump’s White House and European allies.
But the illusion of unity quickly unraveled.
The Kremlin rejected the proposal outright. Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called the “ultimatum-style language” unacceptable, insisting that Russia would not be coerced through threats. President Vladimir Putin, instead of acknowledging the ceasefire plan, proposed a different approach: direct peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15, reviving a negotiation channel that broke down in early 2022.
Trump swiftly shifted course. Rather than doubling down on the ceasefire push, he praised Putin’s proposal and publicly urged Ukraine to agree. "President Putin doesn’t want a ceasefire with Ukraine—he wants to meet in Turkey to talk about ending the bloodshed. Ukraine should say yes immediately," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The move blindsided European leaders, who had hoped to use U.S. backing to pressure Moscow. Instead, Trump’s public statement placed the burden on Ukraine to accept talks—leaving Zelensky with little choice but to comply, according to diplomats familiar with the matter. Zelensky later confirmed his willingness to negotiate directly with Putin in Turkey.
CNN analyst Nick Paton Walsh called the shift a political gamble for Zelensky, who had previously banned direct talks with Russia as long as Putin remained in power. But since a tense confrontation with Trump at the White House in late February, Zelensky has been working to stay in alignment with the American president, fearing a loss of U.S. support.
Some observers speculate that Trump and Putin may be laying the groundwork for a behind-the-scenes deal aimed at ending the war, while others believe Putin’s move is meant to undermine European unity and avoid further U.S.-led sanctions.
European diplomats say Trump’s Truth Social post derailed their plan to coordinate tougher measures against Moscow. In one immediate consequence, the UK postponed sanctions on Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” of oil tankers used to bypass Western restrictions—sanctions that were scheduled for release on May 12.
While the European Union still plans to roll out a new sanctions package by the end of the month, analysts note that the effort has lost momentum.
“The real game-changer would be additional U.S. sanctions—not just for their economic impact, but for the political signal that Trump sees Putin as the obstacle to peace,” said Guardian columnist Patrick Wintour.
European leaders are now watching closely to see whether Putin will personally attend the Istanbul talks. Russia does not officially recognize Zelensky’s legitimacy, arguing his term has expired. If Putin does attend, analysts say it could signal that the Kremlin feels real pressure from Washington.
Kremlin spokesman Peskov declined to confirm any meeting with Zelensky, saying only that Moscow is focused on “serious efforts to find a lasting peace solution.”
Trump added fuel to speculation on May 12, hinting that both he and Putin may show up in Istanbul. “You might get a good result out of that meeting on May 15. I believe both leaders will be there. I’m considering flying in—but I’m not sure yet, I’ve got a lot of meetings,” he said.
Whether the face-to-face talks will actually happen remains uncertain. Putin has not confirmed his attendance. But one thing is clear: Trump doesn’t believe the Russian leader is stalling for time—unlike many of his European counterparts.
“When faced with the choice between standing united with Europe or preserving his rapport with Russia, Trump chose the latter,” Wintour concluded.
(Sources: CNN, The Guardian, AFP)
Hello Shuttle will strive to bring the latest updates. At the end of the day.
Are you looking for reliable airport and cruise port transfer services in Los Angeles?
We offer professional, safe, and punctual transportation from
Los Angeles Airport - LAX
Long Beach Airport - LGB
John Wayne Airport - SNA
San Pedro cruise port
Long Beach cruise port
Disneyland
and other destinations.
Let us make your journey stress-free and comfortable with our dedicated drivers and high-quality vehicles. Book now for the perfect travel experience at www.helloshuttle.com or call 944-800-5678!
