With the Russian military advancing in Ukraine and U.S. President Donald Trump having returned to the White House, Europeans are wondering and worrying about what lies in store for them under the new administration in Washington. Many are focused on how to retain U.S. engagement and partnership on the European continent, starting with Ukraine, while avoiding both Washington’s cold shoulder and/or its bypassing of Europe—Ukraine included—through direct dealings with Moscow.
The concern is understandable. If Trump were to abandon Ukraine, Europe would struggle to fill the void, especially in military terms. And against the backdrop of Ukrainian losses on the battlefield, there is a real threat that a lot more territory could fall under Russian occupation—and even a possibility that Kyiv could succumb entirely. There is also the very real risk that Washington will not just reach out to Moscow over the heads of Europeans, but do so to sell out Ukraine, for which Trump never displayed much sympathy.
These prospects are so scary that many in Europe tend to brush them aside, latching on to the wishful thinking of a continuation or perhaps even revamping of U.S. support. Yet the more Europeans believe in this idealized scenario, the less likely it is that they will prepare for the more realistic ones ahead.