CDU foreign policy expert Röttgen sharply criticizes Trump's Ukraine course, warns of a military defeat of the Kiev troops and describes Elon Musk as a "puppet".
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Relations between Kiev and Washington have deteriorated after Trump struck a diesel deal with Moscow and suspended sanctions.
According to CDU foreign policy expert Norbert Röttgen, US President Donald Trump sided with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in the Ukraine war. Trump wants to “end the conflict with a deal for which he is prepared to make extensive concessions,” said the vice chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the “Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger”.
The US President is ready to "put pressure on Ukraine, which he has identified as the weaker side and more dependent on him. As a result, he is acting against the interests of Ukraine and the Europeans and is currently on Russia's side - unfortunately that has to be said," said Röttgen.
The CDU foreign expert emphasized that Trump could by no means bring about peace, but he could perhaps bring about the military defeat of Ukraine. “That would lead to more war, because Putin would be strengthened in his imperialist claims” and also in using “war as a method” to enforce them. The more Trump puts pressure on Ukraine, the more consistently the Europeans will have to support them, demanded Röttgen.
“Elon Musk is Trump’s puppet on the Ukraine issue”
The CDU foreign politician was also convinced that SpaceX boss Elon Musk did not act independently when temporarily throttling the Starlink satellite internet service. "Elon Musk is Trump's puppet on the Ukraine issue. If he demands that Starlink be switched on or off as war-related infrastructure, Musk will implement it," said Röttgen. “Trump is using it to put pressure on Ukraine – and unfortunately the Europeans have not yet managed to create an alternative to Starlink for Ukraine.”
Relations between Kyiv and Washington have deteriorated significantly in recent weeks. Trump has reached an agreement with Moscow on the supply of diesel fuel and suspended planned sanctions against Russia. When Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the diesel deal, Trump called for it to be canceled. Kiev has also complained in recent weeks about the throttling of the Starlink service, which is crucial for Ukraine in the war against Russia.

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