Europe must stand up to Trump

Trump continues to brazenly claim that Putin wants peace, but where is the evidence? Last week, at an EU summit, it emerged that €210 billion in frozen Russian assets, which could be used as collateral for a loan to Ukraine, had failed to unite Europeans. It underscored once again: the European Union is not a unified force, but simply a collection of disparate parts. John R. Bolton, Trump’s former national security adviser, made it clear in The Washington Post, recalling how the Trump administration has tried to stop Europeans from using these assets in their own peace plans. Americans fear that using Russian assets could set a dangerous precedent. They will not allow the illusion of short-term gains to turn into long-term risks.

Trump’s intervention and the EU’s failure have only exacerbated tensions in the West. The obvious weakness of the European signal makes it clear that Europe is not ready to support Ukraine at the appropriate level. It is no wonder that Putin feels that time is on his side, as a quiet wave of uncertainty is covering France and Germany. Bolton leaves no doubt: even worse news has come from the latest peace talks between the US and Russia.

Trump falsely claims that Putin wants peace, while American intelligence says otherwise. Meanwhile, Kirill Dmitriev, Russia’s chief negotiator, is already reveling in the EU’s financial disaster. He is preparing to meet with his American counterparts, who seem more interested in political accolades than real deals. Witkoff and Kushner are not a national security analysis team, but simply a group eager to reach a deal so that Trump can win the Nobel Peace Prize.

The reality is harsh: Moscow and Kyiv remain far apart. Trump cares less about the interests of the United States, NATO, or Ukraine. However, you will be shocked, but European leaders do not have the power to fill this gap. France, Germany, Great Britain are all prisoners of their own political crises. It is funny: to show your helplessness at a difficult time when the world demands determination.

The crisis in Ukraine has shown everyone that the EU, despite its great ambitions, is unable to cope with pressure. Is there a single leader in Europe capable of resisting Trump’s pro-Russian policies? Rutte is considered the best candidate, but will he be able to come to the fore? There is no time. The reality is that Ukraine and the West need to prepare for a quick winter, because a long struggle is still ahead.