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Earlier this month at the 2025 Munich Security Conference, United States (US) Vice President JD Vance delivered Europe a stark reality check. In an almost 20-minute speech on Feb 14, Vance launched a barrage of unrestrained insults towards European policy, severely damaging the transatlantic relationship. Since then, European leaders have been scrambling to muster a response. As talks for the future of Ukraine intensify, French President Macron and United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister Starmer head to the White House during unstable times.
European leaders convened for an ‘emergency summit’ in Paris on Monday, Feb 17, inspiring hope that an agenda would be set. However, the meeting failed to produce a substantive, consolidated response. Instead, key European policymakers found themselves without any reactive standpoints or policies to offer. During an era of dynamic politics, an alternative view is needed. Despite the US and Russia using Ukraine as a bargaining tool and US President Donald Trump accusing President Volodymyr Zelensky of being a “dictator”, Zelensky seems to be the only leader displaying resistance. While Starmer, Scholz and Macron have defended Zelensky’s integrity, the absence of condemnation towards Trump’s remarks is shocking. As Trump’s America appears to be prioritizing negotiations with Russia, this isn’t the time for Europe to remain on the sidelines. Despite talks to deploy peacekeeping forces and increase defence spending, such commitments will be difficult to honour in Europe’s current condition.
Europe is politically unstable, yet it faces a challenge that requires unity unlike any issue seen in the 21st century. Economic crises, migration, and stagnating growth could undermine Europe’s diplomatic influence. Germany holds an election on Sunday, with Friedrich Merz set to replace Olaf Scholz as Chancellor. However, forming a coalition in the Bundestag could take months, damaging the possibility of any prompt action. Macron’s France has been suffering a period of political turmoil with consistently unstable governments. Surprisingly, The UK seems to be in the best position to stand up for Ukraine, even in the face of Starmer’s plummeting approval ratings and the UK’s isolation from the European Union. Either way, the lack of consensus and sustainable leadership poses the risk that Europe will be ineffective in addressing this crisis.
Before contemplating the kind of response required, we must consider what is at stake for Europe. Fundamentally, the war in Ukraine is on European soil, but not a single country from the continent is negotiating its future. Continued inaction threatens Europe’s political and socioeconomic leverage, and the consequence of this could be dire. In a new age of political bargaining largely defined by Trumpism, a policy of submission and compliance could threaten Europe’s security and freedom. To understand its dangers, we must only look at past examples when Europe became a victim of appeasement. The most severe of cases would be the Munich Conference of 1938, when failure to oppose Nazi expansion resulted in atrocious outcomes. While this example is extreme, Europe shouldn’t rule out the worst-case scenario during a time of unorthodox international relations.
What kind of response is demanded from Europe? The best proposals might come from President Zelensky, who stated Ukraine will not accept peace negotiations without participation. This is the view that Europe should rally behind. Not only is this a tactful display of dissatisfaction without provoking Trump or Putin, but also a chance for Europe to have a voice or even a presence in the bargaining process. If stronger measures were required, European powers must honour their commitments to increase defence spending to secure its own safety and protection. Likewise, European armed forces must develop their abilities to cooperate in order to adapt to a lack of U.S. support. Notably, Macron and Zelensky have suggested to form an ‘army of Europe,’ although these proposals should be treated with caution to avoid any unnecessary escalation.
Macron and Starmer’s meeting with Trump this week are pivotal to the future of Europe. Both leaders have a great opportunity to voice their concerns, and whether they do so effectively will be crucial in determining Europe’s fate. With European leaders disjointed over their views on Ukraine, there is a serious risk that an incoherent response from Starmer and Macron could be detrimental. In a world where the US is no longer a reliable partner, Europe must take a stronger, more unified standing to preserve its security, freedom, and well-being.
Edited by Zhanserik Temirtashev
Image: ‘Munich Security Conference’ by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office via Flickr, 2025 // CC BY 2.0
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