Europe must finally stop acting like Trump’s battered spouse, hoping he will change, and instead embrace the real warrior in Zelensky—the only leader on the frontlines actually fighting for Europe’s security. To be clear, Putin is already in political hospice, and yet some European leaders still hesitate—either they help Ukraine deliver the final blow or prepare for Russian tanks rolling through their borders in the next decade.
Europe’s flirtation with President Trump is like playing with fire while holding a can of gasoline—there’s only one way this ends, and it won’t be pretty. Under his leadership, NATO is on life support, wheezing its last breath while Trump plays footsie with Vladimir Putin, the man whose very existence is a direct threat to the alliance. Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelensky has pulled back the curtain on Russia’s so-called military might, showing the world that Putin’s army is more bark than bite. Ukrainian forces have been holding ground in Russia’s Kursk Oblast since August 2024, proving that not only is Russia’s military a hollow shell, but that Ukraine—outmanned, outgunned, and economically drained—can still make Putin’s forces look like a second-rate militia. This ongoing occupation highlights one simple truth: Europe must grow a spine, break up with Trump, and back Zelensky in finishing the job of neutralizing Putin, especially now that the Russian leader is staring into the abyss of collapse.
It’s astonishing that in 2025, some European leaders still believe they can reason with Trump. Haven’t they learned? He has already thrown America’s alliances under the bus once, and if given the chance, he will do it again without hesitation. Trump's obsession with squeezing NATO members for more military spending isn’t about security—it’s about forcing Europe into a position where they must either dance to his tune or be left defenseless. Ironically, this should be a wake-up call for Europe to take its own security seriously, but instead, some leaders still believe they can “manage” Trump. The only thing that can be managed with Trump is disappointment, and Europe will find that out the hard way if they don't take matters into their own hands.
Adding fuel to the fire, Trump’s bromance with Putin is no longer a mere speculation—it is an undeniable geopolitical crisis. While Ukrainians bleed to keep Europe safe from Russian imperialism, Trump is reportedly preparing to pull U.S. troops from NATO’s eastern front in the Baltics. What does that mean? It means Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania could soon find themselves on their own, staring down a Russian invasion with little more than their courage and a handful of NATO battalions to defend them. Trump’s America will not be there to save them, just as it won’t be there for Germany, France, or Poland if Putin decides to take a gamble on NATO’s fracture. Trump is doing exactly what Putin wants—weakening NATO, dividing Europe, and signaling to Russia that the West is not united in stopping aggression. This isn’t diplomacy; it’s surrender wrapped in a red, white, and blue ribbon.
Meanwhile, President Zelensky has been busy proving that Putin is not the mastermind many once feared. The Ukrainian push into Russia’s Kursk Oblast in August 2024, capturing around 1,300 square kilometers of Russian territory, has not only humiliated the Kremlin but has also made one thing abundantly clear: Russia’s army is a paper tiger. This occupation has forced Russia to scramble, diverting troops and resources it can’t afford to lose. If Putin’s forces were as strong as their propaganda machine claims, Ukraine would have been chased out of Kursk months ago. Instead, as of February 2025, Ukrainian forces are still there, holding ground on Russian soil, while Putin desperately tries to plug the holes in his collapsing front.
Russia’s humiliation does not stop at Kursk. Internally, the situation is deteriorating. The prolonged presence of Ukrainian troops on Russian land has shattered the illusion of Putin’s invincibility, sending shockwaves through Moscow’s elite. Protests—once unheard of in Putin’s Russia—are popping up with increasing frequency. The Kremlin’s failure to swiftly crush the Ukrainian occupation of Kursk has triggered murmurs of discontent even among Putin’s inner circle. The question in Moscow is no longer whether Putin will win in Ukraine, but whether he will survive his own people’s growing frustration. As the saying goes, “A fish rots from the head down,” and the stench of Putin’s political decay is becoming impossible to ignore.
So, what does Europe do now? The time for polite diplomatic statements and half-measures has long passed. Europe stands at a crucial crossroads: either it steps up, takes control of its own security, and supports Zelensky with everything necessary to deal the final blow to Putin, or it continues to gamble on Trump, a man whose loyalty is as reliable as a Russian ceasefire. Any European leader still clinging to the hope that Trump will suddenly become a trustworthy ally is playing Russian roulette—except the gun is fully loaded, and the trigger has already been pulled.
Supporting Ukraine does not have to mean sending troops to fight on the battlefield. Europe has plenty of other options: increase economic and military aid, tighten the financial noose around Russia, and escalate sanctions that truly bite—not just symbolic slaps on the wrist. Every tank, every drone, every bullet that reaches Ukrainian hands weakens Putin’s ability to sustain this war. Every financial sanction that chokes the Russian economy pushes his regime closer to the breaking point. Europe needs to understand that this is not just Ukraine’s war—it is Europe’s war, too. If Ukraine falls, the next war will be fought on NATO’s borders. If Putin is not stopped now, Europe will regret its inaction when Russian troops are knocking on the doors of the Baltics, Poland, and beyond.
The time for waffling is over. Europe must stop treating Trump like an unpredictable ally and start recognizing him for what he truly is: a liability. Aligning with Trump in the hope that he won’t destroy NATO is like giving the arsonist the keys to the fire station and hoping he won’t burn it down. Europe must chart its own course, independent of American instability, and place its bets on a Ukraine that has proven it is willing to fight and die to stop Putin’s madness.
The world has already seen what happens when democracies hesitate. History is littered with the wreckage of failed appeasement. Putin should have been stopped in 2014 when he annexed Crimea. He should have been stopped before launching a full-scale invasion in 2022. He wasn’t—and the world is still paying the price for that failure. But now, with Putin’s army stretched thin and Russia showing cracks, there is an opportunity to finish what should have been finished long ago. Europe must not blink.
This is the moment when history is made. Europe has two choices: stand with Zelensky, a leader who has proven his resilience, his bravery, and his commitment to democracy—or continue to tolerate Trump, a man who has openly praised autocrats and is doing everything in his power to dismantle the transatlantic alliance. The former choice leads to security, stability, and a final reckoning for Putin. The latter choice leads to uncertainty, chaos, and the very real possibility of NATO collapsing under Trump’s erratic leadership.
Europe must not delude itself into thinking it can ride out another Trump presidency unscathed. The writing is on the wall: Trump is no friend to Europe, and he never will be. The only logical path forward is to strengthen the European Union’s own defense capabilities, deepen ties with committed allies like Ukraine, and make it clear to Russia that its days of unchecked aggression are over.
As Europe contemplates its next move, it would be wise to remember an old saying: “He who sups with the devil should have a long spoon.”
At this point, Europe might as well bring a pitchfork.
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