Following talks in Jeddah, the United States resumed aid to Ukraine and intelligence sharing. American and Ukrainian delegations arrived in Saudi Arabia with a ceasefire plan to present to the Russians. There is a glimmer of hope that we are moving toward peace. But I won’t be too optimistic: while the signing of this document may lead to a tactical victory, it doesn’t change the strategic underpinnings of the situation. Trump’s foreign policy remains isolationist and overtly belligerent toward U.S. allies.
America is abandoning its role in supporting democracy, ending the liberal world order that was thought to be immutable. This policy has its roots in the policies of previous administrations, both Democratic and Republican, which for years abandoned U.S. commitments around the world. At the dawn of change, Europe must commit and show greater strength – whether or not a ceasefire is signed. After Zelensky’s failed meeting with Trump in the Oval Office, we saw Macron, Starmer, von der Leyen and their colleagues begin to demonstrate a cautious European resolve. I encourage these efforts to continue – and more.
The crisis goes beyond Ukraine; it is not just about tactical decisions about the amount of money and weapons that need to be sent there. It is about the security infrastructure that needs to be built for the entire continent and, indeed, the entire world. Despite the laudable experiment in collective governance, the European Union cannot fulfill the outpost function in its current form: European leaders must go beyond their limitations and unite all the countries of Europe that want to participate in the defense of freedom and democracy. And while the issue of collective defense may be more focused, the broad coalition of democracies that Europe has built must reach beyond the continent. Europe needs to cooperate with Japan, Australia, and Canada; Europe must become a pillar of democracy around the world.
Criticism and denial
The current crisis does not depend solely on Trump as an individual and his administration in power. It is the result of a long-standing shift in American politics that began during the presidency of Barack Obama. Under his reign, America began to abdicate its responsibilities on the international stage, not completely, but in a way that set a precedent in the eyes of his successors. Under Biden, this shift became more visible: we saw, for example, the acquiescence to the Putin regime – and the massive invasion of Ukraine. Trump is simply taking this foreign policy approach of criticizing partners and abandoning America’s commitments abroad to the extreme. And he is doing so with his characteristic shameless brutality. Europe has had time to take note of these events and react accordingly, but unfortunately it has not yet developed an adequate response.
I suppose this moment of truth can only be welcomed, even if it is triggered by the horrific war in Ukraine and Trump’s temporary withdrawal from American commitments. We need to realize: Europe is at war too. And we need to act accordingly. War is not won by consensus or diplomacy; an enemy can only be defeated by deploying all available resources against it, and urgently. The fact that Europe has not yet solved the problem of internal sabotage by Hungary, a member of the EU and NATO, shows that it is not in the mood for war. At the same time, Putin understands the existential nature of the conflict and is taking advantage of his opponents’ strategic blindness. He started the war even before the invasion of Ukraine in 2022: He was waging hybrid warfare on all fronts – through propaganda, cyberattacks and undercover operations – long before the West began to wake up.
A unique role
Sixty years ago, General de Gaulle spoke of how dangerous it was for Europe to be totally dependent on the United States. At that time, a strong American presence on the continent was, of course, necessary to maintain peace. But de Gaulle’s warning proved prophetic. The day has come when America no longer wants the responsibility of ensuring freedom in Europe – and European governments have realized that they can no longer be held hostage to the ups and downs of American policy.
Thanks to de Gaulle, France has a unique role in any European security project because of its nuclear arsenal. It must now demonstrate the political will to create a nuclear umbrella for all European allies who wish to participate in this new security movement. The defense of European freedom will in many ways be a Resistance movement – against the rise of authoritarianism, be it in Putin’s Russia or Trump’s MAGA-America. The geopolitical implications of creating such a movement, or conversely, failing to create one, will go far beyond the war in Ukraine and will affect the defense of freedom and democracy around the world.
An independent counterweight
Europe can no longer afford the luxury of waiting for a new American president to come, restore relations and restore its security. It must become an independent counterweight to new and dangerous political forces that threaten the global democratic order. Soft power is not enough – the continent’s politics and values must be protected by military and industrial might.
The current generation of European heads of state may not have expected to shoulder such a heavy burden of historical responsibility, but we do not always choose our battles – sometimes they choose us. I hope that European leaders can cope. The sums pledged to Ukraine are just a drop in the ocean of needed aid. I remain optimistic about the new German government’s determination to stand up to Russian aggression, because incoming Chancellor Merz has made it clear: he recognizes that Ukraine needs billions to defend itself, not the millions it is getting now. And Macron in Brussels recognized that Europe cannot stop with the measures already taken – it needs to build a robust and independent security infrastructure.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation is important, but it alone is not enough. I will wait for Macron and his European allies to fulfill their promises. Not only because of the threat to the Ukrainian people, but also for the sake of the future of the European project and the preservation of global freedom and democracy for generations to come.
Glory to Ukraine!
