Staff Reports
European leaders are suddenly feeling the heat and rushing to make promises they should have kept way before now. All thanks to none other than President Donald Trump, whose recent diplomatic outreach regarding the Russia-Ukraine war seems to have shaken them from their slumber. With Trump leaning hard on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and making it plain that he won’t let Europe off the hook, leaders across Europe are scurrying to shore up their own defense capabilities—and, naturally, they’re hoping to keep Uncle Sam on board.
Last week, Trump must have turned a few heads in Europe when he suggested that Ukraine bears some responsibility for stirring the pot with Russia and even went so far as to call Zelensky a “dictator.” These statements were bold enough to make European leaders clutch their pearls, but it was precisely this tough love that has kicked them into gear. One of Trump’s top negotiators casually mentioned that the international fracas may not have started purely at the hands of Russia, and suddenly European leaders are feeling the urgency to step up to the plate and show that they, too, care about European security.
🇪🇺Europe Braces for Shift as Trump Signals U.S. Pullback from Ukraine and NATO Support
European leaders are rushing to adapt as President Trump hints at reducing U.S. support and troops in Europe, especially with the Ukraine war hitting its third year and Russia growing bolder.… pic.twitter.com/jXGyNiMNqN
— Bradley Trenderender (@BTrenderender) February 24, 2025
So, what’s the response from the old continent? France’s Emmanuel Macron is leading the charge, claiming he wants Europe to be more proactive about defense. He recently strolled into Washington with the intention of wooing Trump and assuaging him that Europe shares his vision for a peaceful outcome in Ukraine. Macron’s insisting that European nations will ramp up their military spending to satisfy Trump’s longstanding demand for NATO allies to put their money where their mouth is. Conveniently, he’s also trying to convince everyone that the key to a “solid” peace hinges on providing guarantees to Ukraine—because who wouldn’t want to throw more money into a conflict?
Despite the whining from some Europeans about Trump’s meeting with Russian negotiators, it seems that a few savvy leaders are pivoting to the idea of a Europe that can stand on its own two feet when it comes to defense. Germany’s Friedrich Merz, likely to step into the chancellorship soon, threw around words like “independence from U.S. defense,” all while potentially giving Trump a ticket to have NATO allies strengthen their own defenses—what a predicament! Merz sees the sense in European nations pooling their resources without severing ties entirely with the U.S., which makes it all the more ludicrous when they act offended by Trump’s remarks.
Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, meanwhile, is catching everyone’s attention by appealing directly to Trump’s conservative base. In a fiery virtual address to CPAC attendees, she emphasized that without courage and necessary means, freedom is just a nice idea written in a book. She drew parallels between standing united in Ukraine and defeating past invasions—classic Trumpian fodder. Clearly, Meloni understands both the stakes in Ukraine and the power of appealing to shared values that right-leaning Americans hold dear.
As for newly-minted peacekeeping proposals, it seems Macron is on the prowl to deploy a contingent of 30,000 European troops if a ceasefire takes root with Russia. It’s a solid plan as long as Trump’s approval rating is poised to back them up. This move might just allow Europe to act tough without dragging American troops into the mix—another feather in Trump’s cap as European leaders collectively decide it’s finally time to step up and get their own houses in order. After years of leaning on the benevolence of American defenses, the folks across the pond may finally be learning that it’s wise to actually invest in their own security.
