Vice President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and member of the UK House of Lords, Lord Don Touhig, said that the unpredictability of US President Donald Trump makes any peace efforts to end Russia’s aggression against Ukraine extremely difficult.
In an interview with RBC-Ukraine, Touhig also commented on NATO’s weak response, the issue of confiscating Russian assets, and the growing radical sentiment across Europe.
“At the moment, it is extremely difficult for Ukraine and NATO to assess what President Trump intends to do or will do. We simply cannot be sure. Today he wants to return all your lands, tomorrow he forces you to make concessions,” the British lord said.
According to him, peace talks have stalled not only because of Washington’s inconsistent stance but also due to Moscow’s actions. Putin, Touhig believes, provokes Europe to test NATO’s reaction and create the illusion of military power that “in reality, Russia does not possess.”
Speaking about sanctions, the lord emphasized that the West should focus not only on state-owned but also on private assets of Russian oligarchs close to the Kremlin:
“It will be difficult, of course, but one breakthrough is enough — and they will start to panic. Go after their money, because their wealth gives them power.”
Touhig also warned about the growing popularity of far-right and far-left movements in Europe, linking it to war fatigue, economic hardship, and manipulation on social media. According to him, “intolerant people and radicals may soon get a real chance to come to power,” posing a threat to the entire continent.
“We must be tolerant of everyone — except the intolerant,” the PACE Vice President concluded.