Helping Ukraine Is Europe’s Job Now

12 comments

1. Phillips Payson O’Brien: “Europeans should pay Donald Trump the compliment of believing what he does and says, not what they desperately want to hear. He has clearly indicated that he wants the United States out of the Ukraine war as soon as possible. Both the president-elect and his most important supporter, Elon Musk, have reportedly been in frequent contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Vice President–elect J. D. Vance has outlined a ‘peace’ deal with Ukraine that would serve Russian interests. American aid to Ukraine, which has been vital to the beleaguered country’s ability to resist Russia’s ongoing invasion, could stop not long after Trump is inaugurated. European nations must accept this reality and make their own plans—not just to support Ukraine in its existential fight but also to protect their own security as America’s global role shrinks.

   “Perhaps the best that Ukraine and its supporters can hope for is that Trump doesn’t walk away from NATO and allows European states to purchase U.S. weapons for Ukraine. This minimal position might represent a victory of sorts for Europeans who believe in democracy and the transatlantic alliance—but it would still signal a historical break. The United States will likely stop leading the global opposition to Russian aggression, and perhaps stop caring about the results of the largest war in Europe since 1945. Indeed, the president of the United States will be closer personally to the head of Europe’s largest dictatorship than to any of the continent’s democratically elected leaders.

   “Those leaders should have started preparing for another Trump presidency long ago. They had been warned. But for the past year many Europeans have been surviving on hope. ‘Surely the American people won’t vote for Trump, particularly after the January 6 insurrection.’ The prudent assumption now is that the U.S. will no longer guarantee Europe’s security from Russia and other threats. Leaders should envisage a world where NATO no longer exists—or where the United States is no longer the leading force in the alliance.

   “In some ways, this is more scary psychologically than in practice. Europe—which is to say, the democratic countries enmeshed in institutions such as NATO and the European Union—has the economic and technological resources to underwrite a serious defense effort. It has a large and educated enough population to staff modern armed forces. It also has some strong and growing military capabilities. For instance, European states either have received or will receive in the coming years as many as 600 F-35 fighters—the most advanced and capable aircraft in the world. Such a force could dominate the skies against a clearly inferior Russian opponent.

   “Yet Europe also has many weaknesses. It has developed a shockingly large number of military-hardware systems but then only builds a small number of each. This boutique way of addressing military capability has been exacerbated by a weakness in investing in logistics and a limited ability to produce supplies and equipment quickly and reliably enough to sustain a war effort.”

   Read more here: [https://theatln.tc/lNPotYdq](https://theatln.tc/lNPotYdq)

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3. The majority of Europe has provided Ukraine with far less support than the US.

4. Unfortunately, at this point the west just needs to realize this is a loss, Ukraine will lose territory, North Korea got missile tech from Russia, Iran got satellite and missile tech from Russia and NATO looks weak even though gaining Sweden and Finland makes the block much stronger.

5. I dont understand why they let bots push content here

6. Why the downvotes? Would you rather a) fund a victory for a EU candidate-state that doesn’t involve any real sacrifice or b) fund the growing security apparatus needed if Russia wins and is on more of the EUs border? Some EU states already eye conscription reinstatement. Y’all think that’s going to be better in the b) scenario?

   The US spends roughly 20-30 billion on its presence in Europe every year. If they leave or even just significantly downsize, the gap would have to be filled somehow.

   I understand that there might be more important things to do, like kneecapping your own energy security by dumping nuclear, like Germany does. But, at some point, collective security would have to be back at the top of the agenda with the current level of support for Ukraine. How soon that’s going to happen depends on the European community. Even if Russia isn’t going to do anything, Europe would have to take a more serious military posture and that’s going to cost a lot more than aiding Ukraine in its victory. Not to mention that, like with the States, most of that stays in the EU and is an opportunity to rearm.

   Also, have fun dealing with even more immigration when Russia uses Ukrainian food (if it wins) as a weapon to further destabilize Africa.

   Literally zero downside for helping Ukraine defend itself, not counting the relatively short-term investment (for a combined economy of 17 trillion EUR).

7. Wonder if Europe or the UK will now take on a greater role in regional hegemony. I wonder if we’re reverting to a similar situation of the 19th early 20th century in European affairs with isolationist America, Britain and France taking on a leadership role.

8. Europe watched as Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and did nothing and now in 2024, Europe is too timid and apologetic to support a prolonged and bloody war. If they don’t wake up and ramp up now, the French will be speaking Russian in their school systems soon!

9. Always was.

   /denmark

10. Won’t last long.

11. it’s not like most american voters give much of a shit at this point.

12. Putting aside the fact that Biden’s abysmal and embarrassing military leadership directly contributed to world-wide conflicts of an intensity and scale not seen in 40 years, Europe just sat back and watched a fellow European country get invaded while spoon feeding Ukraine aid and simultaneously handcuffing them from protecting themselves.

    Europe is a laughing stock – no one can possibly take anything they say regarding their military capabilities seriously again. An entire continent, including nuclear powers, shaking in their boots while Russia continues its illegal invasion largely undeterred.

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