Today, Donald Trump will officially begin his term as the 47th President of the United States of America. His possible actions and strategies in the international arena were the main topic of discussion at a meeting of experts organized by the Atlantic Council and Experts Club. Brian Mefford, Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center, and Maksym Urakin, founder of the Experts Club, discussed key issues that will affect the geopolitical situation in the world, including Ukraine.
Brian Mefford noted that Trump’s first months in office will be focused on resolving domestic issues, such as the confirmation of his cabinet members in the Senate. However, the expert emphasized that Ukraine will remain an important issue in US foreign policy.
“Ukraine already has a special envoy, General Kellogg. Although his visit to Kyiv was postponed, it shows that Ukraine remains a priority. Its security is crucial for stability in the region,” Mr. Mefford said.
One of the key topics of discussion was Ukraine’s membership in NATO, which was first promised at the Bucharest Summit in 2008. According to Brian Mefford, this decision could have prevented many of the current problems.
“It was a serious mistake at the time. Russia used this uncertainty: first in Georgia and then in Ukraine. Now, because of the war on its own territory, the NATO issue for Ukraine is being postponed indefinitely. At the same time, there is a need for long-term security guarantees. Ukraine needs modern weapons, so the United States and European partners must remain reliable allies of Ukraine,” he explained.
At the same time, according to the expert, the issue of NATO funding became one of the most discussed during Trump’s first presidency, when he called on European countries to increase their defense spending.
“The United States spends more on defense than the next nine countries combined. Trump was right to insist that European countries spend at least 2% of GDP on defense. And now these requirements are being met. Increasing defense spending in Europe is in everyone’s interest. The alliance remains a powerful tool for ensuring stability,” Mr. Mefford emphasized.
According to him, the US withdrawal from NATO is currently an unlikely scenario.
Mefford suggested that the Trump administration will continue its tough economic policy towards China, including trade wars.
“China does not follow fair rules in international trade. Support for Taiwan will remain unchanged, as the United States has strategic interests in the region. Although China often demonstrates strength, its economy is on the verge of recession and its military power is exaggerated,” he explained.
The expert also touched upon the issue of sanctions against Russia, which remain an effective tool of international pressure.
“Trump imposed more sanctions against Russia during his previous term than Obama did. Their mitigation is possible only if the war ends. This is a long-term mechanism that cannot be ignored,” emphasized Mefford.
Maksym Urakin, founder of the Experts Club think tank, in turn, emphasized the importance of Donald Trump’s election for Ukraine and the world and reminded of other important elections for Ukraine and the region in 2025:
“For Ukraine, partnership with the United States is crucial. However, we need to be prepared for different scenarios and strengthen our economic resilience and diversify our foreign policy, given the very important elections this year in Germany, Poland, Romania, Moldova, and Canada. The world is becoming very dynamic in the future,” said Maxim Urakin.
The experts’ analysis showed that Trump’s policy toward Ukraine will be shaped by both internal and external factors. At the same time, Ukraine’s role in global security will only grow, and international support will remain critical for security on the European continent.
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Atlantic Council, EXPERTS CLUB, NATO, SECURITY, TRUMP, UKRAINE, URAKIN, USA, Меффорд
During his visit to the United States, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy was awarded the Atlantic Council Global Citizen Awards, which recognizes outstanding people who contribute to improving the world.
According to the President’s press service, the Atlantic Council’s highest honor was awarded to the head of the Ukrainian state in May of this year in Kyiv. The official award ceremony took place in New York, where he dedicated the award to the Ukrainian people and partners.
“To be honest, this is not my award. I dedicate this award to all Ukrainians in uniform. I dedicate this award to all our children who were killed by Russian terrorists. We will never forget this. I dedicate this award to all the fathers and mothers who raised such brave Ukrainian soldiers, as well as to all the teachers and doctors who did not leave Ukraine when the full-scale war began,” Zelensky said at the ceremony.
“And, of course, I dedicate this award to all of Ukraine’s partners: The United States, the EU, all the brave countries that stood by us and supported us. Thank you very much! I dedicate this award to all the people in the world who are fighting for freedom and democracy, just like us, Ukrainians. Glory to Ukraine!” – the President added.
This year’s Global Citizen Awards 2023 was also attended by: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who received the award for his significant contribution to peace in Europe and countering the threat to global democracy posed by Russia; Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who was recognized for his leadership in the G7 in strengthening the Global South and promoting international cooperation U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen, who was honored for her 40-year career as an economist and political leadership in ensuring a sustainable and inclusive economy in the United States and the world; U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen, who was honored for her 40-year career as an economist and political leadership in ensuring a sustainable and inclusive economy in the United States and the world.
The event was attended by about 700 people, including current and former heads of state and government, UN ambassadors, representatives of the US administration, global business leaders, media and opinion leaders. The ceremony was covered by leading US media.
