US President Donald Trump has shifted the focus of the NATO security conference in Brussels to the US-Europe ties, sparking concerns among Europeans that they are being left out of a potential peace deal for Ukraine.
During the conference, European officials expressed their fears that they would be excluded from any agreement on Ukraine. However, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo insisted that Europe would be included in any future decision-making process and that the deal would be durable.
The pressure on European countries to increase defence spending and provide security guarantees for Ukraine is growing. NATO officials have urged member states to meet their defence spending commitments by 2024.
As tensions escalate, Europeans are feeling the pinch. The US has moved on from its earlier commitment to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression, leaving Europeans scrambling to fill the gap.
The shift in focus marks a significant change in Trump’s approach to Ukraine, and it remains to be seen how European countries will respond to the new dynamics.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/shocked-europeans-play-catch-up-after-trump-moves-ukraine-2025-02-16