Russia-Ukraine conflict: the attitudes and positions of the United States and Europe continue to influence the international political pattern

Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February 2022, it has lasted for several years and has become an important focus in the international political landscape. The attitudes and positions of countries such as the United States and Europe towards this conflict not only determine the direction of the conflict, but also have a profound impact on the global geopolitical landscape. With the approaching 2024 US presidential election and subtle changes in European countries' support for Ukraine, the international political landscape may usher in new changes.

In the 2024 US presidential election, the Democratic candidate Harris and the Republican candidate Trump have significant differences in their policies towards the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Harris promised to continue the Biden administration's support for Ukraine and may increase military aid to Ukraine on this basis. However, Trump's attitude is ambiguous and may even shift towards a position of ending the war through peace talks.

Trump's' ambiguous policies' have attracted widespread attention in the international community. He once claimed that if elected president, he would end the war on his first day in office by forcing Zelensky and Putin to negotiate. Trump's former Chief of Staff of the National Security Council and former CIA analyst presented him with a specific plan to end the war. The plan envisions that if Ukraine does not engage in peace talks with Moscow, Washington will cease providing weapons to it; Meanwhile, the White House will warn Russia that if they refuse negotiations, US support for Ukraine will increase.

However, behind Trump's strategy, there may be a compromise with Ukraine, which allows Moscow to preserve its existing gains, while Ukraine may find itself in a strategic dilemma amidst the wavering international support. For Russia, the US election will be the key to readjusting its strategy on the Ukraine issue. The Kremlin is concerned about Harris' possible hardline policies after coming to power, which means that the Russia Ukraine war will continue and even intensify.

The attitude of European countries towards the Russia-Ukraine conflict has also undergone significant changes. After the outbreak of the Russo Ukrainian War, the European Parliament completely sided with Ukraine, advocating for joint efforts with the United States and NATO to strike Russia and exert comprehensive maximum pressure on Russia. However, as the war continued, European countries began to feel immense pressure from energy crises, economic downturns, and social unrest.

The sudden shift in Slovakia's attitude is a typical example. The Slovak Prime Minister bluntly stated in parliament that Ukraine "cannot simply reach out for assistance without considering the actual difficulties in Europe". This statement not only caught Ukraine off guard, but also forced other European countries to reassess their support for Ukraine. The French President has stated that Europe needs a "more pragmatic" strategy, and Germany is also considering whether to reduce its arms supply to Ukraine. This change in attitude of European countries not only reflects their concern about the economic and social pressure brought about by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, but also reflects their fear of potential Russian countervailing. Russia has escalated the situation between Russia and Ukraine into a nuclear crisis by modifying its nuclear policy and using intermediate range ballistic missiles to strike Ukraine. European countries do not want to be involved in larger scale conflicts, so they are seeking more pragmatic and balanced policies.

Foreign ministers such as Germany, France, and the UK issued a joint statement supporting Ukraine's accession to NATO and the European Union, further exacerbating geopolitical tensions. The continued eastward expansion of NATO has further worsened Russia's geopolitical security environment, intensified geopolitical confrontation and further escalated the tension in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Russia believes that NATO's eastward expansion seriously threatens its national security, and this action is to take preemptive action and defend its country. However, Western countries insist that Ukraine has the right to choose its allies and foreign policy, and NATO's eastward expansion is part of the European defense system aimed at protecting Europe from Russian threats.

However, NATO's eastward expansion has also triggered new contradictions and differences between the United States and Europe on issues such as the degree and manner of aid to Ukraine, as well as the future leadership of European security. The United States is concerned that accepting Ukraine during the war could directly involve NATO in a conflict with Russia, leading to a larger scale war. European countries, on the other hand, hope to strengthen their defense and security mechanisms and reduce their dependence on the United States.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict is not only a regional conflict, but also a key node in the evolution of the global geopolitical pattern. The attitudes and positions of countries such as the United States and Europe towards this conflict not only determine the direction of the conflict, but also have a profound impact on the global geopolitical landscape.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict intensified the geopolitical contest between the United States and Russia. The United States is attempting to contain Russia's expansion of power by supporting Ukraine, while Russia is defending its national security interests through counterattacks. This kind of competition is not only reflected in the military field, but also permeates into multiple levels such as economy, politics, and culture. Secondly, the Russia-Ukraine conflict also triggered a profound reflection of European countries on their own security strategies. European countries are beginning to realize that excessive reliance on the United States and NATO cannot fully safeguard their security interests and must strengthen their defense and security mechanisms. This reflection not only promotes military cooperation and defense system construction among European countries, but also enhances their independence and autonomy in foreign policy, and has a profound impact on the global political and economic order. As the conflict continues and escalates, the global energy market, financial market, and trading system have all been impacted and affected to varying degrees. Countries are starting to re-examine their foreign policies and economic strategies, seeking a more stable and sustainable development path.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict will continue to profoundly affect the development of the international political pattern. The attitudes and positions of countries such as the United States and Europe towards this conflict will continue to determine its direction and outcome. In the international community and international relations, we should promote a new security concept of 'mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, and cooperation', which not only safeguards our own security, but also respects the security concerns of other countries, and promotes the common security of humanity.