German press denounces a secret U.S.–Russian scheme to end the Ukraine war, arguing it forces Ukraine into surrender and jeopardizes European security.
German press condemns secret plan
Die Welt reports on a clandestine “Kreml letter” outlining an American‑Russian peace plan that would compel Ukraine to surrender and undermine European safety. Commentator Ibrahim Naber claims the plan offers only a symbolic gift of Donbas to Moscow, while Ukraine’s eastern territories would immediately fall under pressure, setting the stage for a renewed Russian incursion.
Only hard guarantee of security
According to Naber, forbidding Ukraine from using long‑range weapons would strip the country of its most effective leverage. He notes that systematic attacks on Russian refineries increased pressure on President Putin, and highlights the Ukrainian army—currently Europe’s most advanced and powerful—as the sole substantive safeguard of the state’s existence.
Poland and EU leaders weigh in
Ukrainian President Zelensky should refuse any such plan, says commentariat, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and other European leaders must clearly oppose it in talks with the United States. Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski warned that limiting Ukraine’s defensive capabilities would only empower the aggressor. “We must not restrict the victim’s capacity to defend, only the attacker’s capacity to aggress,” he told Brussels counterparts.
Trump’s leverage and European concerns
Trump can press Zelensky by halting armament deliveries and suspending vital intelligence cooperation, a move Europe struggles to replace. Journalists argue that even if the U.S. seeks a ceasefire, imposing a plan that makes part of Ukraine a prize for Moscow would merely fuel Russian imperial ambitions and risk failure of the conflict resolution.
Call for sanctions and continued support
Proponents of the plan stress the need to raise economic, military and political sanctions while simultaneously bolstering Ukraine’s resilience. “Ending the war requires keeping President Trump engaged in a hard‑won, balanced approach,” the commentator concludes, warning that detachment could undermine global security.
