Russia and Ukraine: Who Started the War?

European politicians and the media have always sold us the idea that Russia started the war against Ukraine, and now Donald Trump comes along and says the opposite—that it was Ukraine who started the war. So, what’s the truth? Who’s right?
 
Donald Trump has claimed that Ukraine “could be Russian someday” and has suggested that the war could have been avoided if Ukraine had reached an agreement with Russia before the conflict began. His argument is based on the idea that Ukraine should have negotiated with Russia to prevent the escalation, implying that the lack of an agreement contributed to the start of the war. Furthermore, he has stated that Ukraine “never should have started” the conflict, suggesting that Ukraine’s resistance to Russia’s actions could be seen as a trigger.
 
These statements from Trump fit into his narrative that he could have prevented the war if he had been president at the time, reflecting a perspective that seeks to simplify the situation by focusing on negotiation as the solution to geopolitical problems. However, this view overlooks the broader context of Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its support for separatists in eastern Ukraine, which are crucial factors in the origins of the current conflict.
 
Ultimately, both Russia and Ukraine might have avoided this war if, from the outset, negotiations and international mediation—rather than taking one side or the other—had actively intervened to try to find a peaceful solution. And what seems quite likely is that we may never know who started it, but we can assume that Donald Trump—thanks to his mediation—will manage to end it, much to the displeasure of European Union leaders who have been left looking like incompetents who have only managed to complicate the situation, prolong the conflict, and fail to find any solution.
 

A journey through the history of the pharmaceutical industry and one of its great laboratories that had its origins in Alfred Nobel...

“From Alfred Nobel to AstraZeneca” (Vicente Fisac, Amazon) is available in e-Book and print editions: https://a.co/d/9svRTuI 

A story of jealousy and incompetence

In a turn of events that has left the European Union and NATO with their jaws on the floor, Donald Trump has achieved what seemed impossible: finding common ground between Putin and Zelensky to seat them at the peace negotiation table for Ukraine. Yes, friends, the very same Trump, known for his viral tweets and golden hair, has proven to be more effective than an army of diplomats in Armani suits.

The story began a few days ago when Trump, with his direct and no-nonsense style, decided to take the reins of the conflict. First, he called Putin. They say the conversation was so cordial that they almost seemed to be toasting with vodka through the phone. Then, it was Zelensky's turn, who, despite expectations, didn't hang up after three seconds but instead listened intently to the peace proposals.
 
Meanwhile, in Brussels and at NATO headquarters, the news hit like a bucket of cold water. European politicians, accustomed to long meetings and endless speeches, suddenly found themselves outdone by Trump, who, in just two days, had managed to achieve what they couldn't in months of fruitless talk. The feeling of being sidelined was palpable. "How is it possible that Trump, famous for being as diplomatic as an elephant in a china shop, has managed this?" they whispered among themselves.
 
To make matters worse, a Russian leader, in a moment of brutal honesty, described Europe as "a frigid old woman full of jealousy." Wow! That description not only hurt but also highlighted the frustration of a continent that, with its sanctions and ineffective policies, seemed to have contributed more to the mess than to the solution.
 
Humor has not been lacking in this scenario. Memes have flooded the internet, depicting Trump as a superhero, with the EU and NATO playing the roles of frustrated extras. One of the most viral shows Trump with a negotiator's cape, while in the background, European leaders look on with long faces as if they've just realized their peace strategies were less effective than an umbrella in a hurricane.
 
However, beyond the laughter and sarcasm, this episode raises serious questions about the effectiveness of international institutions in times of crisis. Has Trump been a negotiation genius, or has he just been lucky? Or perhaps, the desperation for peace has made everyone more willing to listen, even to someone whose diplomacy is as subtle as a pneumatic hammer?
 
Regardless, the fact remains that while Europe was licking its ego's wounds, Ukraine and Russia seem ready to sit at a negotiation table. And though Trump has become the unexpected protagonist of this story, the real winner would be peace. Because, at the end of the day, what matters is that the guns fall silent, even if it's with a bit of humor and a lot of irony.
 
Editor's Note: You don't need to be a genius to know that peace is complicated, but maybe, just maybe, a little humor and a fresh perspective can help unblock what seemed impossible.
 

A journey through the history of the pharmaceutical industry and one of its great laboratories that had its origins in Alfred Nobel...
“From Alfred Nobel to AstraZeneca” (Vicente Fisac, Amazon) is available in e-Book and print editions: https://a.co/d/9svRTuI