Ukraine's Struggle: Europe's Slow Response and Trump's Growing Frustration

In the heart of Kyiv, Zelenskyy spoke to reporters, stressing that Ukraine needs stronger security guarantees. He made it clear that he won't give Russia more land in Donbas than what they already hold. The peace talks, driven by the White House, seem to be at a standstill. Trump's frustration is growing, and the pressure is on Europe to prove him wrong. A European official admitted that Trump's criticism of Europe's slow response has some truth to it. They are now stepping up, with NATO increasing defense spending and buying U. S. weapons for Ukraine. However, the European Union is struggling to convince Belgium to support a massive loan for Ukraine. Trump's pressure on Ukraine is mounting, and months of careful management through private texts and public flattery have gotten Europe very little. Liana Fix, a senior fellow for Europe at the Council on Foreign Relations, noted that European leaders know they can't just stand up to Trump because of the dependence between Europe and the United States. Some in Europe are still shocked and revolted by Trump's diplomacy in favor of Russia. They dispute Trump's assessment that Putin's army has the upper hand. A European diplomat said that if Russia was so powerful, they would have finished the war within 24 hours. Trump has refused to approve additional defense aid to Ukraine, blasting his predecessor for sending billions in aid. Jake Sullivan, President Joe Biden's national security adviser, said that Trump's claim that Russia is prevailing on the battlefield doesn't match reality. He believes that Ukraine could prevail militarily with stronger U. S. support. Trump seems eager to normalize relations with Moscow, motivated by the prospect of cutting deals with Putin. Fiona Hill, a Russia expert, noted that the U. S. -Russia diplomacy involves three people with business backgrounds. She said that Putin knows Trump wants to make a deal and is emphasizing this in a business context, not as diplomacy. Trump also wants to end Europe's decades-long dependence on the U. S. Ending the war with a deal that favors Putin would serve final notice to Europe that they are on their own. Trump's new national security strategy made this point explicit, criticizing Europe's immigration and economic policies. Despite years of warnings, Europe has been slow to mobilize its defenses. At Trump's behest, NATO members agreed to increase defense spending, but it may be too little, too late. Trump sees Ukraine and European stubbornness as the primary impediment to peace, while many diplomats believe it's his own unwillingness to pressure Moscow that is rendering his peacemaking efforts fruitless.