Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump has signaled a sharp turn in his Ukraine policy, declaring that Kyiv “is in a position to fight and win all of Ukraine back in its original form” – but only if Europe takes the lead.
In a message posted on Truth Social, Trump insisted that Ukraine’s success depends on “time, patience, and the financial support of Europe and, in particular, NATO.” The United States, he said, would limit its role to supplying weapons to NATO, leaving allies to decide how to use them. He ended the note with a curt sign-off: “Good luck to all!”
The shift suggests Trump has abandoned his earlier push for a separate peace deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin, instead leaving Europe with the responsibility of ensuring Ukraine’s security. The change comes amid escalating tensions, including repeated Russian incursions into NATO airspace and drone disruptions near Copenhagen airport, which Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky warned were harbingers of a new era of drone warfare.
European Union leaders have reiterated their determination to secure “a just and lasting peace,” with Commission president Ursula von der Leyen emphasizing that Russia’s aggression must end on Ukraine’s terms. But experts warn the continent faces daunting obstacles.
The so-called coalition of the willing – an informal grouping that grew from eight participants in February to 39 by September – includes NATO and EU members alongside partners such as Japan, South Korea, and Australia. Yet the U.S. itself is absent, leaving questions over cohesion and commitment.
Internal divisions persist. Hungary and Slovakia remain hesitant, while France and Spain face fiscal constraints that complicate defense pledges. Even Germany, which has taken the lead in European support, cannot fully compensate for the end of U.S. largesse.
Analysts say Europe must act quickly to build its own defense-industrial base, strengthen air defenses, expand long-range strike capacity, and plug manpower gaps. Without U.S. intelligence and resources, the road ahead looks fraught.
At the same time, NATO members are under pressure to keep Trump engaged – often by purchasing U.S. arms – while simultaneously building independent capabilities. Balancing these priorities, experts argue, is essential to keeping Ukraine in the fight and preventing Moscow from escalating the conflict into a direct confrontation with the West.
The message from Trump is clear: Europe must carry the weight of Ukraine’s war. Whether the continent can muster the unity, funds, and military muscle to do so remains uncertain.
