europe-faces-hard-choices-as-trump-turns-cold-on-ukraine

European leaders are facing a challenging balancing act as former President Donald Trump’s approach to Ukraine grows increasingly unpredictable. The latest Oval Office drama on Friday, where Mr. Trump reportedly berated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, has pushed Europe to rethink its reliance on American support while accelerating plans to ramp up their own defense capabilities. Talk about awkward diplomacy.

The heated exchange culminated in Mr. Trump canceling a joint press conference with Mr. Zelensky and later posting on social media that the Ukrainian leader was "not ready for peace" as long as he had America’s backing. To make matters worse, Mr. Trump even hinted at withdrawing U.S. support for Ukraine unless it accepts a peace deal brokered by Washington. This shift in tone appears to be part of a broader pivot in American foreign policy, veering from traditional European allies and leaning toward a more Russia-friendly stance. Yes, you read that right.

Understandably, Europe is feeling the heat. Leaders across the continent are worried that a weak peace deal for Ukraine could embolden Russia, potentially turning it into an even bigger threat for the region. The pressure is now on to achieve greater military self-reliance, but this is easier said than done. Building the kind of weapons systems and defense infrastructure Europe needs for true autonomy could take years, and the clock is ticking.

Meanwhile, the European Union’s tendency to struggle with rapid, united political action only adds to the complexity. Supporting Ukraine while simultaneously developing homegrown defenses requires a level of coordination and urgency that has historically been elusive for the bloc. If there were ever a moment for Europe to pull its act together, it’s now.