Trump “reaffirms Trans-Atlantic unity” on Ukraine

U.S. President Donald Trump spoke about Ukraine with Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Wednesday, May 24. According to a readout from the White House of the meeting in Rome, he “reaffirmed transatlantic unity in holding Russia accountable for its actions in Crimea and eastern Ukraine, and noted the importance of convincing Russia to fulfill its commitments under the Minsk Agreements.” President Trump is in Brussels today to meet EU leaders, and coordination regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will be discussed.

In related news, Ukrinform reports that U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency director Vincent R. Stewart said that the DIA does not foresee any major change in the situation in Donbas. He does not expect the Russian federation to stop destabilizing the situation. Ukrinform also quotes Stewart’s prognosis that, “Violence along the Line of Contact probably will remain limited to smaller engagements, although Russia retains a ready capability to escalate the conflict.”

James Hydzik: We do not expect any major changes in the status quo regarding Ukraine from the Trump administration at this point. Stewart’s assessment also matches the consensus and we see no reason to doubt him.