Expert: Germany should avoid this error at Donald Trump

The USA and Ukraine have negotiated a raw material agreement that is to be signed this Friday by the Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj in Washington. But does the deal bring more security for Ukraine? Christian Mölling, political scientist from the Bertelsmann Foundation, warns of hasty hopes.

“Contracts are an invention to establish security on both sides,” he says in star– “The Location International”. US President Donald Trump does “exactly the opposite: from all his statements you have to conclude that he may not adhere to contracts. This brings considerable uncertainty.”

The most important content of the agreement is the creation of a common fund, in which 50 percent of all proceeds from the marketing of Ukrainian raw materials are to flow in the future. A threat of Trump was preceded by: the Ukrainians could “perhaps one day Russians” if they refused access to their resources to the United States.

Many observers consider the agreement now announced as a sign that Selenskyi had negotiated well. It is apparently no longer mentioned in it that Ukraine “owes” up to $ 500 billion to the United States for its previous support, as Trump had previously formulated.

Expert Mölling, however, recommends not to draw conclusions from the contract too early. Trump could “forget what he has agreed” tomorrow, he said. “The uncertainty has not given way.”

However, the agreement also has the potential to change the relationships between Moscow and Washington: “It shows: Trump’s unpredictability also applies to Moscow. This idea that Putin has in his pocket and can control it is not true.”

Christian Mölling advises the future federal government to take an example in dealing with Trump to France President Emmanuel Macron.

“Macron is much closer to Trump in the way he is looking for opportunities when Germany is traditional,” said Mölling. He rely on “that with a new federal government we will find a fresh start on many topics that have been neglected in the past three years.”

According to the political scientist, this also includes the question of whether the reconstruction of Ukraine for Germany and how to deal with European partners can be used. The visit by Friedrich Merz at Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday is “a most important symbol” for the importance of the designated CDU Chancellor of the Franco-German axis.

Especially in one point, says Mölling, Germany has to say goodbye to an illusion: Trump brings not only politically with all the rules, but also in personal dealings with its partners. He is driving a strategy of intimidation and violating the privacy of his interlocutors.

The Trump administration relies on a completely new form of governance, explains the political scientist. Instead of the usual devices and ministerial structures, she installed a “para government” based on networks. The result: The international partners no longer had contact persons about the traditional channels.

Mölling conclusion: Germany and Europe should “no longer leave it with classic diplomatic phrases”, but should also search for other forms of dealing with the USA.