Trump’s Shocking Call Leaves Europe & Ukraine on Edge

The Russia-Ukraine war, ongoing since February 24, 2022, has resulted in significant casualties on both sides, including civilians. However, with the inauguration of the new U.S. administration under President Donald Trump, tensions in Europe and Ukraine have escalated further.

In a recent development, a phone call between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin has left Kyiv deeply unsettled. Trump later informed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about the call and confirmed a potential meeting with Putin in Saudi Arabia.

Why is Europe Worried?

Concerns are growing in Europe over the United States' approach to Russia-Ukraine peace talks. Reports suggest that the U.S. is moving forward with negotiations without consulting European allies, sparking fears of being sidelined in critical decisions.

A Politico report highlighted increasing unease in Europe over Trump's stance on the conflict. Further aggravating the situation, U.S. Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth made a controversial statement, referring to Europe as a "security gutter" for America—suggesting that the U.S. may not prioritize Europe's defense interests.

Trump-Putin Meeting in Saudi Arabia

As part of efforts to negotiate an end to the war, President Trump has announced plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia. Following his phone call with Putin on Wednesday, Trump told reporters in Washington that multiple meetings are planned, with the first one set to take place in Saudi Arabia.

"We expect that he’ll come here, and I’ll go there (Russia)," Trump stated, indicating further diplomatic engagements between the two leaders.

This phone call marked Trump’s first direct conversation with Putin since the beginning of his second term. He also held discussions with Ukrainian President Zelensky, but the nature of those talks remains unclear.

EAM Jaishankar Meets Former NATO Chief at Munich Security Conference

Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the 61st Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Germany, India's External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar held key discussions, including a meeting with former NATO Secretary General and current Norwegian Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg.

"Started the day today meeting Norwegian Finance Minister and incoming chair of the Munich Security Conference, Jens Stoltenberg. A useful exchange on the evolving global security architecture," Jaishankar shared in a post on X.

As geopolitical tensions continue to shift, Europe remains on edge over how the U.S. will navigate the Russia-Ukraine crisis under Trump's leadership.