Storella on EU’s Diplomatic Effort to Sway Trump on Ukraine
Professor Mark C. Storella appeared on Al Jazeera’s news segment “Inside Story” to discuss the state of the transatlantic alliance amid the Ukraine-Russia conflict. European leaders arrived in Washington, D.C. to express their solidarity with Ukraine and to hope to pursue a peace deal with President Vladimir Putin by leveraging the United States’ intervention. But the meeting has raised concerns about Trump’s disproportionate control over diplomatic relations between America and Europe.
Storella explained that the Ukraine-Russia war is a major security threat to Europe. So European leaders meeting with Trump was primarily about communicating their stance on the situation while bolstering Zelenskyy’s position. Besides safeguarding their security interests, the professor added that “the world is learning how to manage Trump” and the European leaders’ use of flattery has worked well with the U.S. president
“In diplomacy, your focus is on interests,” said Storella. “You will do whatever you need to do to advance the interests of your country. And I’m sure that is exactly what European leaders are doing. … Putin is a master manipulator and he seems to be able to manipulate Donald Trump easily. For our European allies, this is something that causes great alarm. And so yes, we saw the mobilization of eight senior leaders in Europe to come to Washington. That shows how important it was, but it also shows they understand they’ve got to make an impression. And so that’s what they were doing. I don’t think … I wouldn’t call it humiliation. I would call it effective use of diplomacy.”
During the discussion, Storella also pointed out that Europe has made a sincere effort to be part of the solution. To help Ukraine and the broader region, leaders are spending more money and focusing on stronger sanctions. France and the U.K., for example, have collaborated to coordinate their nuclear arsenals. He also reminded viewers that Europe has provided more aid to Ukraine than the U.S., and will soon surpass it in terms of financial and military aid.
“Vladimir Putin wants to divide the allies and divide the West. Despite all the difficulties, it is absolutely essential that we find ways to stick together.”
To watch Storella’s complete remarks, click here.
Mark C. Storella is the professor of the practice of diplomacy at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies. He served as a United States Foreign Service Officer for more than three decades. Besides being an ambassador to Zambia, he was a deputy assistant secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration and dean of the Leadership and Management School of the Foreign Service Institute. Storella has several honors and awards to his name, including the Presidential Rank Award and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Excellence in Service Award. To learn more about his work and accomplishments, visit his faculty profile.