German newspaper: All of Europe 'trembles' over Putin-Trump call.

TASS reported on March 18, citing the German newspaper Bild, that European leaders are "trembling" with extreme anxiety ahead of the upcoming phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, as the outcome of this conversation could have "devastating" consequences for the continent's security.

“On Tuesday evening, President Putin and President Trump will discuss the future of Ukraine and possibly the future of Europe, and the impact on the security of our continent could be catastrophic. This is why the atmosphere in European capitals is tense, but also excited,” the newspaper wrote.

Kyiv officials fear that Trump might agree to cede some territory not yet controlled by the Russian military to Moscow. Meanwhile, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland fear a US troop withdrawal from Europe, leading to “a potential Russian invasion in the coming years.” Against this backdrop, these countries recently announced their readiness to withdraw from the Convention on the Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines.

The newspaper notes that Paris and London are preparing for the worst-case scenario. This is why plans to deploy peacekeeping forces to Ukraine, despite Moscow's objections, are becoming increasingly concrete. "If Trump abandons Ukraine, then influential EU countries will intervene, which will lead to a confrontation between Washington and Moscow," Bild concludes.

President Putin and President Trump are expected to hold a phone call on the evening of March 18th. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed on March 17th that preparations for the conversation are underway. The Kremlin emphasized that the topics of discussion will include all important issues, primarily resolving the conflict in Ukraine. For his part, President Trump told reporters that he intends to focus on the territorial and infrastructure aspects of the Ukraine conflict.