US-Russia’s sudden friendship has shocked Europe, leaving no one sure what’s next – CNN

The United States is moving away from decades of cooperation with Europe.

Over the past week, American support for Ukraine has “collapsed,” shocking many European leaders and officials. Many are still puzzled by why US President Donald Trump has attacked Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky so viciously, repeating the disinformation that usually comes from the Kremlin.

CNN writes about this . It is noted that the leaders of Europe were not involved in the negotiations between the US and Russia that took place this week. In addition, they do not know when the US will present Kyiv with the proposed peace agreement and whether the States will implement their threat to retreat from this war. They also do not know what will happen next.

“The way it was done – blow after blow, over a period of days – was a real shock to the continent,” said Armida van Reij, a senior fellow and head of the Europe programme at the London-based think tank Chatham House.

European politicians have begun their work. The Paris summit has generated a whole host of new ideas aimed at shaping the contours of a new uncertain reality. But Europe’s key capitals are still “drifting.” Ideas for peacekeeping forces, increased defense spending, and new military aid to Ukraine have been floated, but never with a “united” voice.

“Europe’s disparate intentions formed one half of a stunning split screen; on the other side were the US and Russia, which suddenly became friends, throwing Ukrainian demands and territories off the negotiating table,” the channel writes.

Europe could benefit, some experts say, from a leader who can unite the continent around a universal purpose, building a bridge between Kiev and Washington. The most obvious candidates now are British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron. Both are visiting Washington next week.

But Europe is not united on defense, and every major leader has domestic problems. There is also the difficult question of when and how far to push Trump aside, since governments know that breaking ties with the U.S. could play into Moscow’s hands.

“We don’t want to break our relationship with America. But what do you do when your closest ally goes to bed with your worst enemy?” British military analyst Nicholas Drummond told CNN.

In any case, there is a high probability that the peace deal agreed by the US and Russia will be rejected by Zelensky, or that Putin will not agree to the introduction of peacekeepers into Ukraine. Then European support will become essential if Ukraine wants to continue a difficult war. This means that Europe will also need to fill the gap in military assistance.

Western officials suggest Kyiv has received enough aid to last until the summer. But the loss of U.S. military aid would be a major blow. One of the people interviewed by journalists noted that there is a “quality difference” between American and European supplies.

The security relationship between America and Europe, which has lasted for decades, has now changed, and picking up the pieces will be a painful and difficult job.

“The US is moving away from 70 years of cooperation. They remain a key pillar of NATO and I hope that will not change over time, but they need to be clear about who their adversaries are and who their allies are,” one British lawmaker told CNN.

(c)UNIAN 2025