Journalist Vitaliy Portnikov, in an interview, discussed the significance of the official end of the war in Gaza as announced by Donald Trump in Israel's parliament. He notes that while the release of hostages is an important humanitarian gesture, the Middle East conflict remains unresolved and the political process enables Hamas to retain influence.
Portnikov draws parallels between the events in the Middle East and the situation in Ukraine, stating that any scenario for ending the war with Russia currently on the table entails maintaining Russian control over occupied territories, much like Hamas persists in governing Gaza. He believes this model does not provide for lasting peace in either case.
The journalist commented on Trump’s proposal to provide Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles if the war is not resolved but points to the lack of details and technical feasibility. Russia’s reaction was harsh—Moscow declared that the launch of Tomahawks could be seen as deploying a missile with nuclear capabilities, raising the risk of a large-scale conflict.
Portnikov also examined Russian activities in Europe, from sabotage to the presence of Russian soldiers near the Estonian border, stating Moscow aims to demoralize Europe and push countries into curtailing support for Ukraine and preparing for further challenges.
He also touched upon the growing power of populists in Europe, warning that such leaders seek power for self-preservation and may undermine democracy if not countered.
In conclusion, Portnikov emphasized that developments around Israel, Ukraine and the West are interconnected, asserting that security and democratic progress can be ensured only by an active civil society and responsible state actions.
