[German]The arms deliveries to Ukraine announced by U.S. President Donald Trump are limited—specifically, only 19 missiles are to be supplied—and currently not feasible, as U.S. stockpiles are reportedly insufficient, according to Military Watch Magazine. Experts consider this scope militarily insignificant. While Ukraine suffers under intensified Russian attacks that, according to DIE ZEIT, are overwhelming its air defenses, Trump’s restraint may be a calculated move. Instead of entangling the U.S. deeper in a conflict that is not a priority for his voters, he signals pragmatism. This war, it seems Trump recognizes, is not his war but one driven by the financial centers of the City of London and Wall Street, along with their proxies—the NATO and the EU in Brussels.Trump’s Strategy: Buying Time for a Realistic Peace The announcement of arms deliveries appears as a diplomatic gesture, but actual implementation is lacking. Instead, Trump grants Russia under Vladimir Putin a roughly 50-day window, tied to negotiations over tariffs, as reported by WELT. This timeframe aligns with the period Russia needs to consolidate its military positions in Ukraine. Trump threatens Russia and its trading partners, such as China and India, with high punitive tariffs if no peace agreement is reached. This approach may seem contradictory to his earlier Russia-friendly stance, but it reveals a strategic line: Trump knows the war is unwinnable for Ukraine and NATO, and that Putin holds the upper hand. His goal is to buy time, end the conflict, and prevent escalation by acknowledging realities on the ground—such as the need to accept Russia’s occupied territories as part of a peace deal.Political Signaling: America First, Not Global Elites Trump’s policy is not a contradiction but an expression of his America First philosophy. He announces Patriot defense missiles, which are to be funded by European countries like Germany, while previously halting deliveries to preserve U.S. stockpiles. This tactic relieves the U.S. and shifts responsibility to Europe. For Trump, this war is a project of the elites in London, Paris, Berlin, and Brussels, who use NATO as a tool to advance their geopolitical interests. He serves not these financial centers but his voters, particularly the MAGA base that brought him to power. His criticism of Putin—for instance, for a lack of willingness to negotiate (tagesschau.de)—remains tactical, aimed at building pressure without drawing the U.S. into a foreign conflict.Europe’s Role: The True Drivers of the War Trump demands that European NATO states like Germany, Norway, or the UK bear the costs of arms deliveries. Germany, for example, plans to finance two Patriot systems for one billion euros. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte speaks of “massive” deliveries, but the U.S. remains reserved, as emphasized in an X post by @MRatzow: “There won’t be a massive wave of weapons to Ukraine now either.” This underscores Trump’s strategy of offloading responsibility onto Europe, which—led by London, Paris, Berlin, and Brussels—is seen as the main instigator of this war. For Trump, it’s clear: the U.S. should not foot the bill for a conflict serving the interests of the global financial elite.Putin’s Security Guarantees and Ukraine: A Realistic Perspective Ukraine suffers under Russian attacks that weaken its defenses and relies on Western aid. Yet Trump seems to recognize that continuing the war without prospects of victory is pointless. Previous delivery halts, which facilitated the capture of Avdiivka, and his 50-day ultimatum show that he accepts Russia’s dominance. For Putin, it’s less about territory than about security guarantees—a shield against NATO, which could militarily threaten Russia. Trump understands this dynamic: without acknowledging the occupied territories, Putin may take all of Ukraine, but a pragmatic deal could end the war.Trump’s Path to a Pragmatic Peace Donald Trump’s Ukraine policy is a strategic maneuver that prioritizes his voters’ interests over those of global elites. The limited arms deliveries and their linkage to tariff negotiations show that he acknowledges geopolitical realities—Russia’s superiority and the unwinnability of the war for Ukraine and NATO. By burdening Europe with the costs, he distances himself from London, Paris, Berlin, and Brussels, the driving forces of this conflict. His approach aims to end the war by addressing Putin’s security concerns and accepting the occupied territories as part of a deal—a pragmatic step to prevent escalation and keep the U.S. out of a foreign war. Whether the 50-day window leads to negotiations will reveal if Trump’s gamble pays off