“They are cheering in Moscow,” we read in the weekly Die Zeit. "In Russia, they do not believe their luck. Donald Trump is once again turning his back on Ukraine. The US president seems deaf to arguments from Europe," writes Michael Thumann.
According to him, Putin wants the summit in China to become the second Yalta.
"Just as Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin met in Yalta in February 1945 to divide Europe, now Putin wants to divide the entire world, wants to delineate spheres of influence, wants to talk about nuclear weapons, and, of course, discuss the fate of Ukraine," explains the commentator.
In his opinion, Putin is "approaching the apogee of his influence on US policy." During numerous telephone conversations, the Russian president "takes advantage of the weakness of a politician who would like to be a ruler." The Russian president pretends to want to help Trump by offering him "a little diesel and a lot of pump."
Putin "managed to get Trump on his side - with disastrous consequences for Ukraine and Europe," we read in Die Zeit.
“Putin wants to bring a resolution this winter.”
"Putin knows he doesn't have much time," the commentator said, noting that Trump's position may weaken after the November 3 congressional elections.
"Putin knows that his ally is not the United States, but Trump - a man of weak character, vain and unstable. He will want to get the most out of this alliance," predicts a journalist from "Die Zeit".
His goal is to talk to Trump about "interests, nuclear power and world politics, while at the same time treating Ukraine as an annoying side topic that needs to be removed from the agenda - preferably through territorial concessions and a change of government in Kiev."
“Putin wants to reach a resolution this winter,” Thumann emphasized. “Europeans must support Ukraine not only without the financial contribution of the Americans, but also increasingly despite Trump,” writes the commentator, warning against disputes within the EU.
"In the face of ideas related to Yalta, Europeans will need unity," concludes "Die Zeit".
"Now everything depends on Europe"
According to "Sueddeutsche Zeitung", the US president is not interested in Ukraine and is completely indifferent to its fate.
“Now everything depends on Europe,” writes Hubert Wetzel. "Donald Trump's government is helping Russia kill men, women and children in Ukraine," the commentator emphasized, referring to blocking information about incoming missiles and limiting supplies of anti-aircraft missiles.
"The US president is furious and frustrated. His own war against Iran is a disaster, the whole world, including his voters, suffers from this incomprehensible stupidity. In his style, the US president attacks the weakest scapegoat he can find: the invaded and raped Ukraine," we read in "SZ".
Since Trump cannot defeat the Iranian regime, he at least wants to finally force Ukraine to surrender, the daily adds.
Appealing to Trump to change his attitude is, according to the commentator, like "using magic to fight the plague" - it is "superstitious nonsense."
"Trump is not interested in the fate of Ukraine or securing Europe from Putin. He is only interested in whether he can make money in the process," Wetzel writes.
"If Europe wants Ukraine to withstand the war with Russia, it must take care of the money and weapons itself," sums up the "SZ" commentator. There is no point counting on the "so-called leader of the free world," he emphasizes.
"It's better not to count on the United States"
"Trump is switching to the side of an autocratic power, providing it with economic aid and putting pressure on a nation that is fighting for freedom and inclusion in the West," writes Nikolas Busse in "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung."
Trump wants to "keep away from negotiations" the president of the attacked country, who is fighting for his life, and at the same time is ready to talk about Ukraine with Putin and Xi, he notes.
German policy should draw the conclusion that "it is better not to count on the United States."
"There is a danger that America will cease to be both a political ally and probably a supplier of IT services or weapons. The answer cannot be submission to Russia, as the AfD wants, but greater European independence," we read in "FAZ."
"A Nightmare for Europe"
The summit of three leaders, Trump, Xi and Putin, is a "nightmare for Europe", says "Handelsblatt". Such a meeting brings back memories of the Potsdam Conference in 1945, where the US, the Soviet Union and Great Britain agreed on the post-war order in Europe.
From a European perspective, such a summit would be a warning signal that "the great powers are dividing their spheres of influence over the heads of those interested." "The main power of the West is clearly on the side of Russia, not only in the war in Ukraine," said "Handelsblatt".
As Die Welt writes, Trump wants to end the war in his own way, "by rushing Ukraine towards capitulation." The US president finances Putin's war budget and blocks all aid for Zelensky, and also wants to diplomatically enhance Russia's value.
"A summit meeting with Xi and Trump, but without Zelensky, would be a double gift for Putin. (...) It would mean the diplomatic rehabilitation of Russia and putting it on an equal footing with the superpowers - China and the USA. In addition, it would be an opportunity to conclude a deal on Ukraine without Ukraine's participation," warned "Die Welt".
