Washington has struck Europe with a double diplomatic blow that could change the course of history. During a telephone conversation, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin discussed ways to end the war in Ukraine and agreed to pay mutual visits. At the same time, Pentagon chief Pete Hughes said in Brussels that the United States would no longer bear the brunt of Europe’s security, forcing allies to take responsibility for their defence. This was reported by CNN.
Trump’s new “America First” policy threatens to change the balance of power in the world, and his potential deal with the Kremlin raises disturbing historical parallels. Former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt compared this situation to the Munich Agreement of 1938, which preceded World War II.
The question now facing Ukraine and Europe is whether the new US diplomacy will send a signal to Putin that he can dictate the terms of peace. And is the West ready to pay for peace in Ukraine at the cost of its territorial integrity?
Reaction of the international community
European leaders expressed deep concern. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for the preservation of NATO’s unity and stressed that Europe could not afford to lose its strategic partner in the United States. At the same time, the United Kingdom stressed the need to strengthen its own defence capabilities in the event of a potential weakening of US support.
The Ukrainian factor
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy chaired an emergency meeting of the National Security and Defence Council, stressing that Ukraine would not participate in negotiations that could violate its sovereignty. Official Kyiv insists on maintaining international support and continuing sanctions pressure on Russia.
What’s next?
The situation continues to deteriorate, and experts predict that in the coming months Europe will be forced to make drastic decisions about its own security. Does this mean the beginning of a new geopolitical era? Time will tell.
