Listen To Story Above
In a significant diplomatic move, President-elect Donald Trump engaged in a crucial conversation with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, focusing on establishing peace in Europe and ending the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Despite being two months away from his presidential inauguration, Trump has already initiated unofficial diplomatic discussions with key figures involved in Europe’s most significant conflict since World War II, including his Sunday evening dialogue with Scholz, as reported by the Welt newspaper.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz congratulates Trump on his win:
“Germany and the US have been working together successfully promoting prosperity and freedom on both sides of the Atlantic.
We will continue to do so for the wellbeing of our citizens”
🇩🇪🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Bkeb999FgT
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) November 6, 2024
According to government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit, “agreed to work together towards a return to peace in Europe”. Berlin also vowed to “continue the decades-long successful cooperation between the governments of both countries.”
Germany has experienced substantial losses from the conflict, second only to Ukraine. The disruption of Russian energy supplies following the invasion and the Nord Stream pipelines’ sabotage has significantly impacted Europe’s economic powerhouse.
During his previous term, Trump repeatedly warned Germany about its dependence on Russian energy while simultaneously relying on American taxpayers for military protection. German diplomats dismissed these concerns, leading to their unpreparedness when the invasion occurred in February 2022.
The consequences continue to reverberate, with Scholz’s coalition government recently dissolving, influenced by economic challenges, budget concerns, and Trump’s victory, who is anticipated to restructure US-European trade relations.
Scholz now faces minority rule in the Bundestag until next year’s elections. His Social Democrat Party trails significantly in polls, suggesting his replacement by March.
In France, President Macron’s influence has diminished following defeats in European and French legislative elections. This weakened Franco-German leadership may limit opposition to Trump’s Ukrainian peace initiatives.
Budget constraints in both European economic powerhouses may reduce their ability to sustain Ukraine’s military funding without American support.
The president-elect has also reportedly communicated with Ukrainian President Zelensky and Vladimir Putin. The Washington Post reported Trump cautioning Putin against escalating the conflict, referencing America’s military presence in Europe.
Germany's leader fears Trump will end the war in Ukraine.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz believes military support should continue to Ukraine.
German analysts say US military support cannot be replaced. pic.twitter.com/grbx35cTZh
— Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) November 6, 2024
According to The Wall Street Journal, Trump’s peace proposal includes freezing current battle lines, acknowledging Russian control over occupied Ukrainian territories, and establishing an 800-mile demilitarized zone monitored by a neutral nation. The plan requires Ukraine to postpone NATO membership for two decades while receiving continued American military support as a defensive measure.
