Selim Ibraimi- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet with US President Donald Trump today. They will meet at his private residence in Mar-a-Lago, Florida. They are scheduled to have talks to end the war. The high-profile talks exclude Europeans. However, they are important now and will remain significant after the peace agreement is signed. Friction between the US and the EU has been running high. Since January 2025, the US and the EU have been engaged in several disputes. More recently, this has escalated into concrete actions. The US government has sanctioned high-profile individuals from EU institutions, which has provoked strong European reactions. In a press release, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused the five sanctioned individuals. He stated that they lead organized efforts to force US platforms to censor, demonetize, and suppress American views they oppose.
Senior officials in President Donald Trump’s administration have condemned European countries. They accused the UK, France, and Germany of alleged censorship. Europeans claim this is due to “serious restrictions on freedom of expression. France, Germany, and Spain soon condemned the news from Washington. The European Commission (EC) issued a statement saying: “We have sought clarification from the US authorities and remain engaged. If necessary, we will respond quickly and decisively to defend our regulatory autonomy against unjustified measures.
The heated debate over tariffs eventually shifted to other areas. These were areas where it was not needed. Some American voices criticized the EU for a lack of transparency and much more. In retaliation, some voices outside Brussels have responded to the US with information such as: Europe has a welfare system. Europe has free higher education. Europe has excellent public transport. Europe has a higher life expectancy. Europe has a much lower cost of living. Europe has good and cheap healthcare. Europe has a much higher standard of living than the US in almost every measurable category. So, how exactly are Americans cheaper than Europeans? Euro-American relations were further strained when President Trump announced a special envoy for Greenland. President Donald Trump appointed Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as the US Special Representative for Greenland. France, Greenland, and other countries expressed their dissatisfaction, reactions that Washington ignored.
It is clear from all the transatlantic ups and downs. The US views these events as an extension of the Monroe Doctrine of 1823. The Western Hemisphere is seen as its sphere of influence. It must be protected from external and internal threats. According to analysts, the US will commit to taking it as territory, despite harsh European speeches and reactions. “The US needs Greenland for national security reasons,” said President Donald Trump in a speech in Washington. Then Denmark addressed President Trump: “You can’t annex other countries; Greenland is not for sale.”
The criticism and accusations continued without a break, without any effect on improving Euro-American relations. While the two main allies of the post-World War II and Cold War are maintaining constant speeches and tough measures against each other, Russia has continued to bomb Ukraine, even playing games in the neutral airspace of Western Europe with high-level strategic aircraft. European media reported seeing two Russian strategic bombers. These were TU-95 type aircraft, observed near Norway. An unpleasant situation that put NATO aircraft in motion. Sources announced that the Russian aircraft did not cross the airspace of Great Britain or Norway. However, they flew far enough to put NATO into action. Fear of Russia has grown significantly in the EU and more widely. This fear is evidenced by the preparations of European states for future attacks by the Russian military.
NATO and European states have previously warned about potential threats. They suggested that Russia is preparing for a possible war with Europe. The conflict can start in the Baltic’s. Some Russian movements of the 336th Separate Marine Infantry Brigade are part of the reports. This brigade is located in the city of Baltiysk in the Kaliningrad region. These movements are part of a wider Russian movement for hybrid actions and limited military movements. However, the Baltic states are not sitting idly by. Neither are the states of the Eastern Wing of NATO. Poland, as the most powerful state, is also actively involved. They are armed with the latest technology and are ready to confront Russia. The President of Finland, Alexander Stubb, emphasized their stance. He stated that they should not fear Moscow for new attacks on European states. Military confidence has increased among Europeans. That is a good thing. However, the remaining differences between France and Germany undermine the Europeans’ ability to respond quickly and fairly. These issues have added to the strained transatlantic relations. There have been developments in US-EU and EU-Russia relations. The central issue remains peace in 2026 between Ukraine and Russia. The question is whether it will be achieved on American terms. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke in an interview with Axios www.axios.com journalist Barak Ravid. He posted on the X network. He signaled that Ukraine and Washington are no longer talking in abstractions. Now, they are working towards concrete political results.
“The draft documents are almost ready, and only ‘sensitive issues’ remain unresolved. “Time is critical, as battlefield dynamics, economic strain, and geopolitical pressure are converging to make a prolonged stalemate increasingly costly. This is not a ceasefire announcement, but a shift toward structuring influence, sequencing talks, and defining acceptable end states. Ukraine’s call for continued pressure on Russia underscores that diplomacy is being pursued from a position of strength, not concession. If these talks progress, the coming weeks will be crucial. They determine if the war enters a new diplomatic phase. Alternatively, it will harden into a longer confrontation.” Some say the war between Ukraine and Russia end in 2026. This change will usher in a different world for the EU, Asia, and US-Russia relations. The Russian decline in particular should be watched closely. With the new US-Russia agreements, the doors are open for new and better cooperation between the two countries. Some argue that Russia’s opening up has an impact on other areas, such as the Balkans. However, Russian regional policies would largely remain unchanged. This is true even in the Balkans, where Serbs and others still support Russia despite its international status.
Observers perceive this as a bad sign for the Balkan states. It is also seen as a good sign. These states are living in the past. In general terms, peace talks in Ukraine are proceeding slowly. Sending mixed signals has several outcomes. If the agreement is interpreted as a Russian victory, it reinforces Serbian ambitions for new territories. Alternatively, the same messages can be softened to achieve objectives step by step. This approach plays simultaneously with several parties, including the EU, the US, Russia, China, and Turkey. A balanced agreement under Euro-American auspices would have positive effects throughout Europe. It should not be seen by the Russians as entirely in favor of Ukraine. Such an agreement would allow time for slow stabilization. It would also help reduce Russian-Serbian revisionism and lead to integration into the EU. This is, of course, assuming no other regional unions emerge from new Russian-American relations.
This is an optimistic view on the case of Ukraine, post-war Russia, and its implications in the troubled regions. But the reality is different based on current conditions and facts. The 20-point draft for Ukraine offers demilitarized zones, economic, and military guarantees with Article -5 etc., etc., as a way to reach an agreement acceptable to all. In this context, neither Russia nor Serbia will relinquish their historical ties. They will also maintain current connections, regardless of any shifts in influence. International relations are a complex system that can end with long-term interests. States can withdraw from agreements. Treaties can be abrogated. Governments can fail to take pragmatic actions. Economic and ideological ties can be the main driving force. Therefore, in scenarios of ending the war or not, alliances should be viewed rationally. Emotional perspectives should be avoided. If there is an interest involved, then it will prevail. This is true in the case of Serbian-Russian relations and other cases in world politics. Finally, the US and the EU, while they are engaged in Ukraine, should end the accusations at this time. They need to act as good actors to reach a final agreement between Kosovo and Serbia. Such agreements will certainly avoid much bigger problems. These problems arise in certain areas of the status quo after the fire in Ukraine is extinguished.
The article was originally published in Albanian on www.portalb.mk