Trump and Putin: Europe's fate without a say?

Trump and Putin: Europe's fate without a say?

A new chapter full of escalation in the Ukraine crisis: Donald Trump has once again teamed up with Vladimir Putin, not only causing international excitement, but also turning Europe into a precarious maneuvering force. The worrying conversation has shocked European leaders who feel left out. According to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, there will be no return for Ukraine to its full territorial claims, while the US no longer wants to provide the necessary support for Ukraine's accession to NATO. This is all happening as Europe is being crushed in a dangerous game of geopolitical chess - a situation that is being watched with great excitement, particularly in Brussels and the Kremlin. How Krone.at reported, the Kremlin sees this new situation as a confirmation of its strength, while Ukraine is being ignored.

Reactions in Europe

NATO, now in a state of shock, has clearly communicated: “There can be no negotiations on Ukraine without Ukraine.” The defense ministers of European countries emphasized this during a joint appearance in Brussels. There are great concerns: a bilateral agreement between the USA and Russia could have serious disadvantages for European security. British Defense Secretary John Healey also made it clear that European nations are ready to get involved, but on terms they want to set. The Reporting from The Week emphasizes that the pressure is growing on the EU and NATO states to form themselves and develop a common strategy in order not to be relegated to the status of “useless security freeriders”.

With this alarming dynamic, Russia is already celebrating a supposed victory, as Trump signals a degradation of European influences in the negotiations. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov calls for a future beyond the negotiations in which Ukraine only plays a secondary role. This development could prove a painful step backwards for security and political stability in Europe as Trump tirelessly consolidates his role as a political pawn with a clear preference for Putin.