Photo/Illutration U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte amid negotiations to end the Russian war in Ukraine, at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 18. (REUTERS)

Major concerns remain although the worst-case scenario of having the United States force unfavorable conditions on Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia, was avoided.

U.S. President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and clearly stated that Washington would be engaged in guaranteeing Ukraine’s security.

Shock ran through Europe three days earlier when Trump gave Russian President Vladimir Putin a red carpet welcome during their meeting in Alaska.

The meeting between Trump and Zelensky expanded into a highly unusual session, with the participation of not only the European Union and NATO, but also the leaders of Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Finland.

The unity demonstrated by Europe may have slightly moved Trump away from his inclination toward Russia.

But there remain many questions about Trump’s true intentions.

He temporarily left the meeting with the European leaders in order to call Putin.

In front of reporters, Trump seemed to stand up for Putin, saying that the Russian president also wanted to end the war.

If Trump intends to pressure Ukraine into making some compromise, there will be a need for the United States to provide specific measures it would use to guarantee Ukraine’s security.

Washington should come up with a peace proposal that respects Ukraine since it was invaded.

There was a report that, in his meeting with Trump, Putin proposed a written promise that Russia would not invade Ukraine in the future.

But Russia unilaterally annexed the Crimea after violating the Budapest Memorandum in which Ukraine abandoned its nuclear arsenal on condition its security would be guaranteed.

Eight years later, Russia began its invasion into other parts of Ukraine.

Russia cannot be trusted to guarantee Ukraine’s security.

Russia is also said to be seeking the ceding of two eastern Ukrainian regions, including Donetsk. But Ukraine is still clinging to about 30 percent of the Donetsk region and has built up a solid military base.

If that region is ceded, Ukraine’s defense line will be weakened, making it more difficult to prevent another Russian invasion.

A majority of Ukrainians are opposed to ceding their territory.

The invader should not be provided any fruits for their actions nor should any room be left to allow for another barbaric act in the future.

The invasion of Ukraine is not simply a regional conflict.

If the ignoring of international law by Russia, a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, is allowed, the rule of law that the international community has been seeking could crumble.

This is the moment of truth.

Europe is seeking to expand the framework of support for Ukraine.

According to NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, about 30 nations, including Japan, plan to attend a meeting.

As a neighbor of Russia in the Far East and with its own territorial dispute, Japan cannot consider the Ukrainian invasion as someone else’s problem.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Aug. 20

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