Trump met with Putin in Alaska in August 2025 without any European participation, fueling concern on the continent that Washington was trying to end the war without any input from Ukraine or Europe. Trump has repeatedly shifted his tone on the conflict and did not issue a public statement in support of Ukraine on the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Pistorius also faulted the White House for taking Ukraine’s NATO membership off the table too early in negotiations.
“The American president unfortunately and unnecessarily took NATO membership off the table very early. That would have been one issue one could have used to negotiate about other things,” he said.
It’s not the first time Pistorius has criticized Trump’s handling of the war in Ukraine. Speaking to Deutschlandfunk Radio last year, he said the president had “misjudged” his influence with Putin in ceasefire negotiations.
His latest comments come days before German Chancellor Friedrich Merz heads to Washington, where he said in an interview that he plans to present a “common European position” on trade after Trump moved to raise global tariffs to 15 percent.