Donald Trump’s attempt to broker a deal between Russia and Ukraine has sent shockwaves across Europe. According to Euronews, this move could have catastrophic consequences for the continent’s security. Politicians fear that a hasty agreement will weaken Ukraine, strengthen the Kremlin’s position, and undermine NATO unity.
Without European Coordination
European leaders were stunned when Trump held a phone conversation with Vladimir Putin without coordinating with allies. This unilateral action sparked outrage. “If a deal is reached behind our backs, it simply won’t work,” said Kaja Kallas, the EU’s top diplomat.
Following the call, Trump dispatched a delegation to Saudi Arabia for negotiations with Russian officials. European allies were excluded from these discussions. European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, voiced concerns that Ukraine’s fate was being decided without its participation.
The Risk of Losing Ukraine
Trump has long displayed admiration for Putin. He previously called the Russian president a “genius” and criticized Zelenskyy, stating that “the war should have ended three years ago.” After Zelenskyy protested Ukraine’s exclusion from the talks, Trump labeled him a “dictator without elections,” provoking international outrage.
Experts warn that if Trump sides with Russia from the outset, the balance of power will shift irreversibly in the Kremlin’s favor. This could legitimize Russia’s occupation of 20% of Ukrainian territory. The White House has already signaled that restoring Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is an “unrealistic” goal. This stance aligns with Moscow’s rhetoric, which uses Ukraine’s NATO ambitions as justification for the war.
Europe’s Political Alienation
The situation is exacerbated by Europe’s exclusion from negotiations. The U.S. administration confirmed that European nations would act as observers rather than participants in the peace process. This has shocked Brussels, as the EU is Ukraine’s largest financial backer, providing €132 billion compared to America’s €114 billion.
European leaders fear that this process will weaken their influence, forcing the continent to accept unfavorable terms while shouldering the burden of implementing them. The European Commission has already allocated a multi-billion euro loan to Kyiv, using frozen Russian assets as collateral. However, if the U.S. agrees to unfreeze these funds as part of a deal with Moscow, Ukraine’s financial support structure could collapse.
Security Threats to Europe
Additionally, the White House has circulated a request to European capitals about potentially deploying a military mission to enforce any future agreement but made it clear that U.S. troops will not participate. “We are not covering this under NATO’s mandate,” said U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
Some countries, such as the UK, have expressed willingness to send soldiers, but only if the U.S. is also involved. Germany and Poland, however, consider such a move premature and risky.
Weakening the Transatlantic Alliance
Europe fears that regardless of the outcome of negotiations between Trump, Putin, and Zelenskyy, the U.S. will gradually reduce its military presence on the continent. According to the U.S. Secretary of Defense, Washington is now focusing on countering China and addressing the migration crisis at its southern border.
Since 2022, the number of American troops in Europe has surged to 100,000, but this figure may be reduced. If the U.S. retreats from protecting Europe, NATO could face a crisis, giving Putin the opportunity to expand his influence in the region.
“Without U.S. support, it is difficult to imagine a credible security guarantee for Europe,” said Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
Experts warn that 2025 could mark a “historic turning point” when America’s and Europe’s strategic interests begin to diverge. “Trump might make concessions that Biden rejected in 2021, such as banning NATO troop deployments and weapons in Eastern Europe,” noted Jana Puglierin, an expert at the European Council on Foreign Relations.
Thus, Europe risks being powerless against the dismantling of its security system, while NATO faces the threat of losing its role as the primary defender of the Western world.
This article was prepared based on materials published by Euronews. The author does not claim authorship of the original text but presents their interpretation of the content for informational purposes.
The original article can be found at the following link: Euronews
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