Continental Europe’s power elite are rushing to Washington in an urgent mission to defend Ukraine from what they perceive as a potentially dangerous Trump-Putin deal. The high-stakes diplomatic emergency reflects profound European anxiety about Trump’s apparent willingness to engage with Putin without adequate protections for Ukrainian interests.
The emergency response was triggered by Trump’s enthusiastic assessment of his Alaska summit with Putin, where he claimed “big progress” in Russian relations. This optimism has created serious alarm across European capitals, particularly given that Putin’s Western visit marked his first such appearance since initiating an invasion that has fundamentally destabilized European security.
The European power elite mobilization includes President Zelenskyy leading a delegation of continental heavyweights: Macron, Starmer, Merz, and von der Leyen. This unprecedented assembly of European leadership demonstrates their shared commitment to preventing any hasty agreement that could legitimize Russian territorial gains or marginalize European influence in crucial decisions.
European defense efforts focus particularly on countering potential land-for-peace arrangements reportedly discussed during the Trump-Putin encounter. While U.S. officials tout “game-changing” security guarantees, European leaders argue that any sustainable peace must respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity and include robust European participation in both negotiation and enforcement mechanisms.