European officials should not be surprised, but the actions of US President Donald Trump's administration in the matter of Ukraine, Russia and European defense have shocked them in recent days – describes Reuters.
During the Munich Safety Conference, which lasted from Friday to Sunday, among the representatives of European countries there was a sense of consternation and disbelief, as well as a breath of panic, although – as Reuters writes – some tried to make a good face for a bad game.
Among the many fears, the most important is that Europeans can no longer be sure of American military protection and whether US President Donald Trump will conclude a peace agreement with the Russian leader Vladimir Putin on the war in Ukraine, which will weaken the sticks and wider security of Europe.
According to Reuters, these fears were fueled by the speech of the US Vice President JD Vance during the Munich Safety Conference, in which he only mentioned Ukraine and European defense and focused on accusing Europe of Europe of suppression of freedom of speech and inability to manage migration.
JD Vance at the Munich Safety ConferencePAP/EPA/Ronald Wittek
European leaders under US pressure
European leaders have stated that they would have to take more responsibility for their own defense, increasing the expenses and weapon production. Reuters noted, however, that after years of making such statements during the first term of Trump in 2017-2021 and after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 they still did not agree on how to organize such an undertaking or how to pay for them.
The agency adds that European leaders are also under the pressure of the United States to develop security guarantees for Ukraine. He points out that a group of leaders is to discuss them on a hurriedly organized peak in Paris on Monday.
Fears compounded by the words of General Kellogg
The fears of Europeans before moving to the side track were intensified by the special USA to Ukraine and Russia, General Keith Kellogg. He stated on Saturday that Europe would not be directly at the negotiating table, but its role is to collect and take into account the opinions of European countries regarding the end of the war in Ukraine.
General Keith Kellogg in MunichPAP/EPA/BORIS ROESSLER/POOL
Reuters also notes that the same day it turned out that US and Russian officials will meet in the coming days of Saudi Arabiato start conversations aimed at ending the war.
American officials maintain that they will agree to a “permanent” peace agreement, and Ukraine will sit at the table, but as Reuters writes, some European leaders present at a conference in Munich, where in 1938 the so -called The Munich agreement regarding the connection of some of the Czechoslovakia territories to the German Reich, they openly said that they were afraid that the policy of concessions was returning.
– Standing tonight in Munich, I can't refrain from asking: Were we here? – said the head of the EU diplomacy Kaja Kallas on Saturday evening.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote On Sunday, on the X platform: “As a historian and politician, the only thing I can say today is: Munich. Never again.”
Trump's conversation with Putin, the words of the head of the Pentagon
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday evening that he talked by phone with the Russian leader Vladimir Putin. After this conversation, Trump reported that they agreed to start peaceful negotiations on Ukraine.
Trump talked to Putin, gave a likely meeting placeReuters
Earlier on that day, the Secretary of Defense of the United States Pete HegeSeth said in Brussels that Ukraine's membership in NATO is “unrealistic”, as well as returning to its borders before 2014. He also noted that Europe has to get more involved in its own security, because it is not the main priority of the United States
Reuters notes that Trump's actions have overturned Western policy, implemented by the administration of the previous US President Joe Biden and European powers, consisting in attempts to insulate Putin and insist, that peace talks began only when Ukraine is in a stronger position on the battlefield.
The agency points out that many of these steps were announced by Trump in his election campaign, he also reminds that during the first term he often criticized NATO and accused Europeans of not spending enough defense.
He adds that these actions have made European leaders frantically catching up. After months of debate on possible European security guarantees for Ukraine, they were forced by the US to act and describe in detail what they could provide.
The agency also indicates that two European leaders called on Sunday the European Union to appoint a special envoy for peace talks in Ukraine – a few months after Trump appointed its own.
“We will have to completely change our attitude”
Reuters describes that some European officials are afraid of the transatlantic alliance as a whole, arguing that Trump's administration not only implements a different policy than Europe, but is actively opposing the European main political trend.
In the margins of the Munich Security Conference, the US Vice President met with leaders of the far -right alternative to Germany (AFD).
– Now it is clear that the US wants to break the post -war order they have created. And this includes the destruction of the EU. We will have to be prepared for this and completely change our attitude – said one of the European diplomats cited by Reuters.
Source of the main photo: PAP/EPA/Ronald Wittek