Do they really want peace in Europe?

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Following last week’s highly publicized confrontation between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, European leaders swiftly rallied to reaffirm their support for Ukraine amid its ongoing war with Russia. The Oval Office clash, where Trump berated Zelenskyy and appeared to shift U.S. policy toward Russia, left Ukraine increasingly vulnerable and prompted a strong European response.

This shift was compounded by Trump’s initiation of peace talks with Russia that excluded both Ukraine and Europe, raising concerns about a potential reduction in U.S. military and financial aid.

European leaders, alarmed by the deepening transatlantic rift, took immediate steps to bolster Ukraine. On March 1, figures such as French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz, and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen publicly expressed solidarity with Zelenskyy, emphasizing Ukraine’s dignity and bravery while condemning Russia as the aggressor. Macron distinguished between Russia as the aggressor and Ukraine as the victim, while von der Leyen encouraged Zelenskyy to remain strong, assuring him that he was not alone. Leaders from Poland, Spain, the Baltic states, and others echoed this sentiment, pledging continued support.

On March 2, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted an emergency summit in London, attended by Zelenskyy and over a dozen European leaders, to discuss security backstops for Ukraine. The summit aimed to form a “coalition of the willing” to sustain Ukraine’s efforts, with Starmer announcing new air defense missile purchases for Ukraine. Meanwhile, Macron and Starmer planned visits to Washington to urge Trump to maintain U.S. engagement, highlighting Europe’s reliance on American military support, intelligence, and logistics.

By March 6, EU leaders convened a special summit in Brussels, where they committed to enhancing European defense capabilities and supporting Ukraine independently of U.S. policy shifts. European Council President António Costa emphasized that the EU would back Ukraine without demanding compensation, such as natural resources.

The European Commission proposed fiscal flexibility to mobilize significant defense spending, signaling a move toward greater European military readiness. Although specific figures for new aid were not universally detailed, the EU’s prior support—amounting to substantial sums in grants and loans—underpinned these pledges.

Despite these efforts, Europe’s strategy remained heavily dependent on U.S. cooperation, particularly for advanced military resources and potential peacekeeping enforcement. Leaders acknowledged the challenge of replacing U.S. contributions fully, with some expressing frustration at Trump’s approach but recognizing the need to keep dialogue open.

All of this just prolongs the war – Trump’s genius could get us out of it

Trump has done us a favor by forcing Europe to dig deep and find the money to defend itself that it never found for NATO. The Europe’s determination to arm Ukraine, ramp up defense spending, and form coalitions (e.g., Starmer’s “coalition of the willing”) can look like a commitment to prolonged conflict and a flex against relations with America.