EU leaders should convince Trump with great joint effort to support Ukraine and improve their own defense, writes Hannele Muilu, EPN’s EU correspondent
Hannele Muuleuu-Correspondent
21: 17 • Updated 21:23
BRUSSELS That’s where the crisis came. US president Donald Trump On Wednesday, a long telephone conversation with Putin to end the war in Ukraine, ignoring the EU and Ukraine.
It is accustomed to wondering that the EU only causes big things in the midst of a crisis. For example, the EU collected ranks during the euro crisis and the corona pandemia. The euro was saved and a vaccine was obtained quite quickly.
Now the EU is fighting for its place on the world map so that it would not be just an overpowering country group. At least in the Baltic countries, it is feared that The United States is pulling its NATO troops off and leave behind insecurity.
The United States does not promise Europe to place a place in peace negotiations. The position of Ukraine itself is vague. Instead, the United States intends to move its NATO soldiers from Europe elsewhere and demand a drastic increase in defense budgets from Europe.
A group of European leaders gathered in Paris Emergency Meeting French President Emmanuel Macron from the invitation.
The United States should be convinced that the EU is serious and is able to support Ukraine and raise its own defense ability. Then the United States might agree to keep NATO troops in Europe.
Sounds like a desperate divorce.
Crisis mode has been missing
Almost all EU meetings have been talked about strengthening Europe’s own defense since the war began. The unofficial summit in early February focused on defense, expected in March and decisions are expected to be made in June. The crisis mode has been missing.
The EU schedule sounds hopelessly slow when Russia and the United States meet in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. Putin and Trump will also meet soon. This expense is hardly a stool for peace talks.
The EU would need a big impressive effort. Such could be a significant tens of billion euros of aid package to armed Ukraine. It could also be considered as a single security guarantee that strengthens the Ukrainian negotiating position.
The United States asked EU countries to tell us what kind of security guarantees they would be ready to give to Ukraine. In Paris, the answer is made to this.
For example, Britain and Sweden have already promised troops to Ukraine. More precisely, troops are defined when they know whether they monitor ceasefire or peace. If the troops are intended to create a clear deterrent, they must have the power to use the force. Peace protection can only be talked about as peaceful in the country.
Money for defense would be needed quickly, so the co -debt is again at the heart of the speeches. For example, Finland has outlined that all financial exchanges are valid.
EU lacks leadership
The EU is slow because it has lacking a clear lead character that would start a fair amount of investment in joint defense and, for example, joint procurement.
As an invitation to the Macro meeting, you are looking for a place. His time has gone too much for messy domestic politics. British Prime Minister Keith Starmer is active but not an outside EU leader.
It seems that the EU phone number is lost again. Former US Foreign Minister Henry Kissinger He once asked what the European phone number is. He suggested that no one was led by Europe. At times it seemed that the phone number has the Commission chairman Ursula von der Leyen. Now he has been quite quiet.
However, Trump has no enthusiasm to call the EU, he would prefer to contact the countries directly. The security guarantee survey went to the land separately.
Macron’s meeting was angry on the part
Macron probably wanted to keep the meeting effective, so only Denmark is represented by the same -minded Nordic countries. Prime minister Petteri Orpo (co.) You can still wait for the EU summit you want.
However, the peas were pulled by Romania, the Czech Republic and the eternal stunned Hungary and Slovakia.
The Czech Republic criticized Macron for arrogance.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter szijjártó At its press conference, Trump and Putin started the negotiations.
– The supporters of the war were organized in Europe. They gathered in Paris today, he said.
The unity of the EU can be fractured even more when Europe’s right -wing populists seem to have got an ally from Trump. They received confirmation when the US Vice President JD VANCE In his speech, he criticized the European liberals and praised the right-wing right, such as the German partially extremist AFD party.
Hungary and Slovakia can be encouraged to oppose Ukrainian support packages and anti-Russian sanctions more harder. They are required in the EU.
This may not be a crisis that shoots the EU rows straight.