European leaders have sent a clear message to Donald Trump: don’t make a unilateral deal with Putin on Ukraine without consulting us first. The gathering of top European officials in Washington was not about negotiating with America as equals, but rather about begging Trump not to abandon his alliance with Russia.
The symbolism of the meeting was striking – a semicircle of politicians surrounding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a clear image of Europe’s dependence on the US. The hope was that Trump would refrain from humiliating Ukraine again, and this mission succeeded in part.
However, behind closed doors, European leaders were pleading with Trump not to make deals without them. They know that without America, they cannot deliver on their own, lacking the necessary firepower, intelligence, and leadership. Trump knows this, which is why he can dangle vague promises and set the terms of debate.
The unspoken truth is that Europe’s “strategic autonomy” remains a slogan – it doesn’t translate to real power. Without America, they are at the mercy of Putin’s whims. The EU’s repeated vows to defend Ukraine’s borders cannot be taken seriously if Trump can so easily brush aside discussions on territorial changes.
This is the deeper humiliation: Europe’s dependence on American will. They may talk about “strategic autonomy,” but their actions reveal a security protectorate of the US. The transatlantic alliance is exposed for what it is – an asymmetric relationship where Europe’s leaders can only beg, not negotiate as equals.
Source: https://www.euronews.com/2025/08/22/europe-kneels-before-trump-in-washington