Regarding your editorial on the crisis in Ukraine (“Europe must be prepared for Trump to walk away”, FT View, March 4), Europeans have to tell US President Donald Trump that from now on, Europeans will take the lead and he will be offered a way out. How to make this happen?
First, Ukraine should not sign any deals for minerals or rare earths with the US. Second, an audit has to be made on whose money and how much has been given to Ukraine and under what terms. This is needed to expose Trump’s lie about America’s contribution being north of $300bn.
Then a coalition of the willing to bankroll the war in Ukraine will have to be put together. All future arms or monetary shipments will go through this coalition.
When the war ends, companies from the coalition countries will be given contracts to rebuild Ukraine in proportion to their country’s contributions.
Then a choice would be given to Trump. He can get American money back or stay invested. If he stays invested, American companies will participate in rebuilding Ukraine after the war. If America wants its money back it will get it back, and Europe will just buy American weapons and lend them to Ukraine.
Unless Europe finally decides to confiscate the frozen Russian assets, individual countries will have to come up with the money to refinance the US contribution. But it is cheaper to support Ukraine today than to fight Russia in a new war tomorrow.
Gunnar Kobin
Tallinn, Estonia