Rich Holden

Teacher; Mathematician; Computer Scientist.

The University of Sheffield  

Sheffield, England, United Kingdom

Dec 30, 2025

At last: A leader has stated the frigging obvious.
Eventually: Europe must act independently.

That means: Deploying militarily to Western Ukraine w/full intent of restoring Ukraine’s rightful borders, nor request for US support – Europe doesn’t actually need it beyond buying from it.

Deploy: Without regard for Putin-Trump bluster – Trump will never turn down a profitable defence business deal. Europe must show it means business.

Deployment: Troops to Western Ukraine, No Fly Zone, Logistical, Supply Chain, Infrastructure Help, Offensive and Defensive Weapon Supply, further threat of troops to frontline to overwhelm Russian forces if Putin hits NATO. Either way Ukraine wins and restores its rightful borders.

Fire back disproportionately from Ukraine if he hits forces deployed in Ukraine: Europe has far greater fire power than the Russian military and can carry out this threat.

Until that happens: Europe remains rightly open for criticism. Not just the EU, every nation state in Europe bar Ukraine 🇺🇦.

Once it happens: The world takes the EU, European coalition beyond the EU, and liberal values seriously again. Europe can then partner and lead beyond the U.S. in building a democratic liberal world order once again, having explicitly said “FUCK YOU” to authoritarianism in language they understand – Hard Power.

StopUsingTrumpAsAnExcuse.

I’m seeing more and more people in Europe calling on going independent and deploying to Ukraine. It starts small, proliferation is slow, but backed by evidence hearts and minds in Europe can be won. Political will always follows domestic public will not vv.

Comment from :

Veronica Cretu

What a disgrace, makes me sick to listen to this russian asset in the White House over and over again … Trump, standing next to Zelenskyy and still bragging so many times about the war criminal in kremlin … and so many times praising the terrorist state of russia. I am even more helpless and hopeless now about any negotiations.
This should stop! It is a charade!
Why allow this russian asset in the White House gain dividends home and globally with his pro-russian rhetoric?!
Wake up, Europe! Time to mobilize and defend ourselves! Forget the US!

Rich Holden :

If Europe unites and deploys to Ukraine Russian Troops would sh*t themselves. Imagine suddenly facing the equivalent of Wehrmacht SS divisions and British Paras-Tactics, joining Ukrainian counterparts. It’s ridiculous Europe so scared of Russia. Russia should be scared of Europe.

If thinking numbers a problem look here:
https://lnkd.in/eh5z7HNk

Here’s a proper analysis of what would happen if US left Europe completely. Not a lot:
https://lnkd.in/eNSj3TpE

Why Germans Feared British Paratroopers — But Not American Airborne Troops