Featured Image Credit: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images
Topics: Russia, Military, Europe, Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine
Ellie Kemp
Topics: Russia, Military, Europe, Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine
While Ukraine and Russia appear to have made progress with a tentative ceasefire agreement, Europe is preparing for an 'unthinkable' invasion lead by Vladamir Putin.
This week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Putin agreed to a partial ceasefire after talks with Donald Trump.
Yet, nobody knows when it will begin or what exactly will be protected, and while Trump pushed for a full 30-day ceasefire, Russian President Putin would only settle for 'partial'.
It is yet to be determined which infrastructures - like power plants, railways, and ports - will be off-limits.
Advert
While Ukraine is hoping for broader protections, Russia appears willing to spare only energy infrastructure.
During the call, Trump proposed that the US takes control of Ukraine’s power plants to ensure their safety, a White House statement from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and national security adviser Mike Waltz said.
Trump told Zelenskyy that the US could be 'very helpful in running those plants with its electricity and utility expertise,' suggesting that 'American ownership of those plants could be the best protection for that infrastructure'.
The idea was floated even as the Trump administration looks to finalize an agreement to gain access to Ukraine’s critical minerals as partial repayment for US support for Ukraine during the war.
However, Zelenskyy said the conversation focused on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest of its kind in Europe, which has been under Russian control since early in the war.
Despite these ceasefire talks, Russia continued drone strikes on Ukraine, with Ukraine hitting back at Russian equipment.
Officials from all three nations are set to meet in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to iron out details on Sunday (March 23).
While there's no end to the three-year conflict in sight just yet, Ukraine will no doubt be remaining hopeful.
But even if Trump does successfully broker a peace deal, Europe will still be bracing itself for an 'unthinkable' attack by Russia.
The BBC reported that European defence strategists theorize Russia is planning for the 'unthinkable'; after making gains in Ukraine, it could rebuild its army and threaten NATO's eastern members, like Baltic states, within three years or less.
A report from the Danish Defense Intelligence Service (DDIS) released in February offered up one of three scenarios that could play out should the conflict in Ukraine stop.
This is assuming that Russia 'does not have the capacity to wage war with multiple countries at the same time', Politico reports.
Within six months, the report suggests, Russia 'would be able to wage a local war with a bordering country'.
Within two years, it could 'launch a regional war in the Baltic Sea region'.
And in five years, 'it could launch a large-scale attack on Europe, provided the US does not get involved'.
DDIS did not, however, factor in any possible increase in NATO defense capabilities.
DDIS' report explained: "Russia is likely to be more willing to use military force in a regional war against one or more European NATO countries if it perceives NATO as militarily weakened or politically divided."
It continued: "This is particularly true if Russia assesses that the US cannot or will not support the European NATO countries in a war with Russia."