On Monday French President Emmanuel Macron met with European leaders in Paris, France to discuss the rupture of the 80-year geopolitical relationship between Western Europe and the Americans in the wake of President Donald Trump seeking to end the war against Russia in Ukraine.
“[The Europeans were discussing] how to react to the U.S. diplomatic blitz on Ukraine, which left the once rock-solid partner as a potential political liability,” The Boston Globe said Monday. “The first visit by top U.S. officials to Europe has left the impression that the Trump administration was ready to embrace the Kremlin while it cold-shouldered many of its age-old European allies.”
Ending a war which may go nuclear has not been an acceptable option for Western Europe, even if it means losing the U.S. as an ally, something which the Europeans also seem unaccepting of, despite not being able to have it both ways. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer himself is mulling sending British forces into Ukraine to fight the Russians directly.
“The tipping point came when Trump decided to upend years of U.S. policy by holding talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in hopes of ending the Russia-Ukraine war. Then, Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine and Russia on Saturday all but ruled out the inclusion of other Europeans in any Ukraine peace talks,” The Boston Globe said.
Interestingly, Europe claims to want a seat at the table in the peace talks, despite not wanting peace. They also don’t want a ceasefire unless a peace deal is reached, a peace deal they don’t want to exist unless they are a part of crafting it.
“European leaders have insisted their governments must have a say in talks between the U.S. and Russia to end the war in Ukraine, as both Moscow and Washington said there was no role for Europe in the negotiations that could shape the future of the continent,” The Washington Post said Tuesday.
While Europe appears to have aspirations of a grand war, the ability for them to win, or even fight said war is in question, including by establishment media like The AP.
“One question loomed: Could Europe take charge of its own security, or would it remain reactive to U.S. and Russian decisions?” The AP said Tuesday.
While not always giving off the image of an alfa-male, Macron assumed the position of a dominate player in Monday’s get-together.
“Macron reinforced his image of the imperial French ‘Sun King’ and his bid to become the dominant voice on Ukraine and European security,” The AP said Tuesday.
Macron may have reason to flex his domination – France’s nuclear weapons and his authority to use them.
“With a presidential mandate until 2027 and France’s nuclear arsenal making it the bloc’s only atomic power, Macron has positioned himself as the only politician with both the ambition and authority to act,” The AP said Tuesday.
Notably, beside’s Biden’s America, the only other country to strike Russia with long range nuclear-capable missiles (with conventional explosives) was the U.K. and France.
While he’s no longer inside the E.U., Starmer of the U.K. vies for a dominate position below Macron, with the Brit mulling direct war against Russia in Ukraine due to the threat of peace.
Assuming a subordinate position at Monday’s meeting was another man, Olaf Scholz, who did not take center stage, as he may soon be out of German office. Italy appears to be following the Trump peace plan based on the statements and activities of Giorgia Meloni.
“Giorgia Meloni, a Trump ally and the only leader of a major European economy to attend his inauguration in January, arrived late to the Paris summit and left without making a public statement — moves observers saw as signs of skepticism toward the meeting,” The AP said Tuesday. “At the summit, she pushed back against deploying European troops to Ukraine, calling it ‘the most complex and least effective option’ – especially without firm security guarantees for Kyiv.”