"It was a good TV show" – what negotiating strategy did Trump use
Now, after such a hard day, we can start planning the next steps. And there are months of work to do here.
There will be a rare earths deal. It is beneficial to both sides, but thanks to Politico's publications and extensive coverage in the American press, the Trump team felt that it was less beneficial for them than for Ukraine. Therefore, all this discourse yesterday will clearly trigger a review of this process and the text of the deal itself.
There will be weapons. It was not for nothing that Trump said this before the start of Vance's provocations – this is an element of his negotiations, not our cooperation, so he needs it out of his own interest. However, the issue of weapons supplies after the ceasefire will definitely be shifted to the Europeans.
The Russians will now take advantage of this situation and present Trump with new proposals – both regarding rare earth metals in the occupied territories, and regarding the lifting of sanctions in exchange for profitable contracts, and much more. Even if Trump returns to our agreement, this will not prevent him from signing a good agreement with Moscow as well.
As Trump himself said after the meeting, "it was a good TV show." So it was definitely a provocation of a very good, well-coordinated style, designed to give Trump leverage in negotiations with Ukraine, Russia, and even Europe.
This is not the first time we have quarreled with Trump (I believe it will not be the last). Therefore, we must already understand how to work – we start with personal contacts, reach a mutual understanding with Trump's entourage, then throw in a new proposal (as was the case with rare earths) and promote it for real work.
The quarrel with Trump has brought the issue of a common security strategy with Europe to the fore. The moment when the United States will not be there was felt very vividly yesterday, and therefore if we want to enter potential negotiations from a position of strength, this position must be a common European one.