Let’s face it, Europe as a geopolitical concept is as shaky as an edifice on sand after America, under President Donald Trump, “abandoned Ukraine” and even became Europe’s “enemy”, to quote the Financial Times.
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With the Ukraine war marching into its fourth year, Trump spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin in a cordial phone call about ending the war. US and Russian officials held meetings in Saudi Arabia and Turkey – disregarding Europe and Ukraine in the process – to reestablish relations and discuss peace, on the apparent understanding that there would be no return to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders, no Nato membership for Kyiv, and no American or Nato troops as part of any post-peace arrangement in Ukraine.
Trump has refused to condemn Russia as an invader, instead berating Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for not having “the cards” to win the war in a shouting match at the White House, demanding foreclosure on Ukraine’s rare earth assets to recoup the alleged war aid to the country. The US has now said it will pause all military aid to Ukraine “to ensure that it is contributing to a solution”.
European leaders have denounced Washington’s U-turn and the drastic manner of its execution. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, for one, sided with Zelensky after his bitter encounter with Trump, praising him for being “fearless”. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas proclaimed “the free world needs a new leader”.
Crisis summits have taken place in Paris and London in an effort to form a united European front, with leaders vowing to continue aiding Kiev’s war efforts and be part of the peace process, including dispatching European peacekeeping troops if needed after any armistice.
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Most observers are pessimistic, even defeatist, about Europe. Already in the shadow of a security threat from Russia, it has been caught off guard by Washington’s brazen betrayal when it seemingly needs an ally more than ever.