Europe's Big Decision: Act or Watch?

Europe is at a crucial moment. It can either step in and help Ukraine or stay quiet and watch from the sidelines. The truth is, for a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia to happen, there needs to be strong military support. The U. S. didn't keep its promise to end the war quickly. This leaves Europe as the main player with the power to make a real difference. Ukraine needs more than just promises. It needs soldiers on the ground. This isn't a new concept. During the Cold War, the U. S. , UK, and France had troops in West Berlin to protect it. Europe could do something similar in Ukraine. But these troops shouldn't be neutral peacekeepers. They need to clearly show whose side they're on. Ukraine has already had peacekeepers from the OSCE, but they didn't stop Russia from advancing. Europe has the military strength to send a strong, quick-response force to Ukraine. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has already shown support for this idea. He's said he's ready to send British troops to Ukraine as part of a peace deal. This move would send a strong message to the world: Europe is serious about its defense and ready to be a reliable partner.Europe's involvement in Ukraine isn't just about helping Ukraine. It's about Europe standing up for itself. For years, the West has been supporting Ukraine's defense, but Russia keeps pushing. Now, Europe needs to step up its game. It needs to provide weapons to Ukraine to force Russia to the negotiating table. Then, Europe must secure a peace agreement through its military presence. Russia isn't known for making concessions without pressure. A Kremlin advisor even said Ukraine must meet all Russian demands or face extinction. Meanwhile, some Europeans are talking about resuming Russian gas imports. This isn't the way to go. Europe should use gas imports as a tool to end the war. Europe needs to learn from its past mistakes. A fragile peace without solid security guarantees is just a recipe for future wars. The Baltic nations are particularly at risk. They understand the dangers, but others might not until it's too late. Ukrainians are fighting for their nation's survival. They're paying the ultimate price. Europe needs to realize the threat Russia poses and take the risks involved in guaranteeing peace. By not acting, the European Union risks being remembered as the bloc that failed to fight for itself and its values. European troops in Ukraine would not only aid Ukraine but also prevent Europe from fading into total irrelevance.