Petro Oleschuk: Trump Will Play Around With The "Peace Council" And Throw It Away

• 21.01.2026, 17:59

The President of the United States is acting erratically.

Most European Union countries rejected an invitation from U.S. President Donald Trump to join his "Peace Council," to which some 60 countries have been invited.

Why did Trump need an alternative to the UN? Charter97.org spoke to Ukrainian political scientist and professor at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv Peter Oleshchuk

- Trump is not the most systematic politician in the world. I don't think he has some specific goal right now. Rather, there are several goals, and I think he is acting chaotically. Nevertheless, I'll try to highlight some of them.

First of all, Trump and his entourage have repeatedly emphasized that the world order does not suit them, it's wrong, the role of the United States is wrong, the role of the president of the United States is wrong. They are changing everything, making everything right.

It is obvious that Trump is creating a kind of right from his point of view UN headed by himself, and headed by himself for life. On the one hand, he realizes some goals related to the transformation of the world as he sees fit, and on the other hand, he does not forget about his own ambition.

What is the main problem with the UN? It's not headed by Trump. And what is the main advantage of Trump's "Peace Council" - it is headed by Trump.

This is the first point. The second point, I think, is that after the successful special operation to capture Nicolas Maduro, Trump got formally giddy with success. He immediately rushed to annex Greenland and give everyone various ultimatums. He obviously believes that now is the optimal time to establish the order he wants once and for all, now is the optimal opportunity to build on success.

By the way, there is one nuance, which is probably not the main one or something very significant, but I can't help but think about it.

One of the first to receive an invitation to the "Peace Council" is Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Orban is Trump's main ally in Europe, a destructive force against the European Union, undermining it from within, which is especially valuable in the context of Trump's recent attacks on the EU. Funny thing: lately there has simply been a pilgrimage by a variety of right-wing and far-right world politicians in support of Orban. They've been recording relevant appeals: from Javier Milay and Marine Le Pen, concluding with Benjamin Netanyahu. In fact, this whole, shall we say, hangout that Trump is bringing together in a "Peace Council" is no accident.

Everyone realizes that Orban is going into the next election not in the best of positions, probably for the first time in 16 years. For the first time in 16 years, Orban's re-election as prime minister does not look obvious.

We remember that previously, again, Budapest was suggested as a meeting place for Putin and Trump. The opportunity is not missed to somehow show Orban's foreign policy relevance. To show, say, look, Orban is a leader whom Trump respects, whom he includes everywhere. That is, if you want to be friends with Trump, elect Orban. This is a kind of political technology for Orban.

Of course, this is not the main goal, but as an additional goal, why not? Orban has elections coming up, he could use it, to put it mildly. And without Orban, it will be a bit more difficult for Trump to realize his plans in Europe.

I note that Trump has such a tendency that he gets carried away quickly, quickly catches fire and quickly burns out.

It is not excluded that in a couple of months he will play with the "Peace Council" and throw it away.