The wake-up call of the past months
Transatlantic relations have hit severe turbulence in recent weeks, triggered by US President Donald Trump’s unilateral announcement of direct peace talks with Russia over Ukraine—without prior consultation with Kyiv or European allies. The situation escalated further when US Vice President J.D. Vance delivered a confrontational speech at the Munich Security Conference, claiming that the greatest threat to Europe is not Russia or China, but “the enemy within.” Trump later fueled tensions by branding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “a dictator” and blaming Ukraine, rather than Russia, for the war. These controversial remarks by top US officials have sent shockwaves through European capitals, casting doubt on Washington’s long-term commitment to European security and its leadership of the political West—an authority it has maintained since World War II and solidified through its Cold War victory.
And after the scandalous scene between Trump, Vance and Zelensky in the US, which ended with an abrupt parting, it is time for serious conclusions.
