Europe’s political elite have been thrown into disarray as the U.S. takes the lead in shaping a resolution to the Ukraine war, leaving EU leaders grasping for a clear strategy. In response, they’ve resorted to bold rhetoric, stressing the need for unity while struggling to chart a path forward.
On February 18, the EU Parliament’s pro-European parties—Renew, the European People’s Party (EPP), and the Social Democrats (S&D)—issued a statement declaring that the U.S. could no longer be considered a reliable ally. “Europe can no longer fully rely on the United States to defend our shared values and interests,” they warned, yet failed to outline any concrete plans.
A day earlier, a dramatic open letter signed by former European leaders, including ex-WTO chief Pascal Lamy and former commissioner Enrico Letta, accused Donald Trump of posing a “serious and multiple” danger to Europe. “After a month of provocations, we now know we are facing grave threats under the new U.S. president,” they wrote, urging Europe to bolster its own defense—but without detailing how.
The transatlantic alliance, they cautioned, now faces a moment of “survival or decline.” Though EU leaders acknowledge the challenge, they admit they lack a unified strategy or a clear plan to utilize Europe’s existing resources.
The statements follow a failed emergency Paris summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, where European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and NATO’s chief met to discuss Ukraine—without reaching a consensus.
While there’s broad agreement on increasing defense spending, European leaders remain split on whether to send peacekeepers to Ukraine. France is now set to host another meeting on February 19, bringing in more EU nations and Canada, but divisions remain over the next course of action.
