Former Defence Secretary Warns of “Stench of Appeasement” in Trump-Putin Ukraine Talks

Former Defence Secretary Sir Ben Wallace has cautioned against a “stench of appeasement” surrounding discussions between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin over Ukraine.

His remarks follow growing concerns that Trump’s administration may be conceding to Russia after signaling that annexed Crimea is likely to remain under Putin’s control.

Trump and Putin’s apparent move toward negotiating a territorial division of Ukraine has sparked international backlash, with critics fearing a repeat of historical diplomatic failures.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Sir Ben compared the current situation to the 1938 conference where European leaders underestimated Hitler’s aggression. “It’s unfortunate that this year’s gathering seems poised to reflect the catastrophic 1938 conference, where the continent ignored Hitler’s deception. The stench of appeasement is once again filling Munich,” he wrote in The Telegraph.

He referenced Neville Chamberlain’s ill-fated “peace for our time” proclamation after signing an agreement with Hitler, followed by Winston Churchill’s stark rebuttal: “You were given the choice between war and dishonour. You chose dishonour and you will have war.” Wallace warned that history could repeat itself if the West fails to stand firm, citing risks in Taiwan, Iran, and Europe.

Meanwhile, Putin has invited Trump to Moscow for high-level talks to negotiate an end to the war that Russia initiated nearly three years ago.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that a return to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders was “unrealistic,” effectively accepting Russia’s continued control of Crimea. He also noted that NATO membership for Ukraine was not considered part of the resolution, though he later denied accusations of “betrayal.”

His comments were met with criticism in Europe. Germany’s Defence Minister, Boris Pistorius, expressed disappointment that Washington had already made what he called “concessions” to Russia. He insisted that Ukraine’s NATO aspirations and territorial integrity should remain open for discussion.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky firmly rejected any agreements that exclude Ukraine from the negotiation process. He stressed that Ukraine must “negotiate from a position of strength, with strong and reliable security guarantees,” adding that NATO membership remains the most cost-effective solution for Ukraine’s partners.

Sir Keir Starmer also emphasized the importance of keeping Ukraine at the heart of any discussions.

Following a phone call between Trump and Putin, European powers have demanded involvement in the upcoming peace negotiations between the US and Russia. Trump later confirmed that he and Putin had agreed to talks on resolving the conflict but did not clarify whether Kyiv or European leaders would be included.

The Kremlin revealed that Trump and Putin spoke for nearly 90 minutes and had agreed to meet in person. Trump, who has repeatedly claimed he could end the war quickly, did not specify how he intends to achieve this.

The call followed a recent prisoner exchange, which saw Russia release American schoolteacher Marc Fogel after more than three years of detention in exchange for convicted Russian cybercriminal Alexander Vinnik.

Following his conversation with Trump, Zelensky said he had a “meaningful discussion” with the US leader and shared details of Putin’s stance.

The UK reaffirmed its position that Ukraine’s “rightful place” is within NATO, a goal Kyiv has long pursued.