NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, US Secretary of Defense Pete HegeSth, British Secretary of Defense John Healey and Turkey Ambassador at NATO Zeki Levent Gumrukc are taking part in a family photo during a meeting of NATO defense ministers at the Alliance headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, 2025.
Yves Herman Reuters
When the world defense and security elite gathers at a security conference in Munich, the future of Ukraine, peace talks with Russia and the transformation of security and defense architecture in Europe will be at first glance discussions.
The best US officials, including vice president JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and a special envoy to Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg, belong to delegates traveling to Germany on Friday to start a two -day summit, an annual event that connects the most loud characters from the defense sectors and security.
The peak is just a few days after US President Donald Trump announced it Russia and Ukraine agreed to start peace talksAnd that he instructed American officials to start negotiations immediately.
The substance of these conversations and what conditions and compromises of Moscow and Kijiw – and the USA – may require as part of these negotiations, they will be the focal point for delegates in MSC.
The role of Europe will play in discussions all the time, see you, despite the insistence of Ukraine, that its most steadfast ally is included in the conversations.
Before Trump Bombshell talks on Wednesday, US Secretary of Defense Pete HegeSeth gave the taste of what was to come, stunning Ukraine and its allies, stateing it The return to the borders of Ukraine before 2014 and NATO membership for Ukraine were “unrealistic” goals.
He also called on “talented European and non -European troops” to support any security guarantee for Ukraine, stating definitely that American troops would not be arranged in the country. He added that NATO should not be involved in any peace mission Ukraine.
Analysts say that Europe is facing the choice of acceleration and taking more responsibility for the defense of Ukraine, and ultimately its own safety.
“President Trump succumbed to the charm and historical narrative of Putin and will end most of the American military involvement in the Russian war in Ukraine. There was no previous discussion with allies. It is as if “Ironclad's commitment” never existed, “said David Roche, a quantum strategy strategist.
“It knocked on the effects. For now, support for NATO is continued, but conflicting European security must be run by Europeans. To sum up, Europe can no longer rely on NATO and must establish its own defense – expensive exercise, “he”, he “, he”, he is expensive exercise. ” He said in the comments e -Mail.
NATO command
Trump has long been criticizing NATO allies in Europe for not spending enough defense and called Member States to increase financing to 5% of GDP, and the Secretary of Defense HegSeth supported this request on Wednesday.
At the moment Only 23 out of 32 NATO members reached 2%According to NATO estimates, defense expenses in 2024.
Some analysts defended the position of Trump's administration, stating that his “American” plan for Ukraine can be a wake up Europe.
“While Europe has tried to isolate Putin, Trump got involved.” Productory telephone conversation “between them will enrager European politicians – but what can they do, unless they are ready to finance Ukraine's fight for freedom?”, Bill Blain, market strategy and founder of the elevator Shift Capital, found in -mail in the comments on Thursday.
“Europe is a problem of Europe, and Ukraine is part of Europe … While there will be a lot of crying about the betrayal of Trump in Ukraine and its unbelievability towards Europe, maybe it is” wake up and smell coffee' The moment Europe needs, “Blain said, adding:” Ukrainian peace will be a problem of Europe. “
Europe has left Trump with the aforementioned
It seems that the allies of Ukraine in Europe were blind by Trump's unilateral conduct to force peace conversations about Ukraine and Russia, and the highest officials of the continent are afraid that they can be left off the beaten track.
On Thursday, Kaja Kallas, head of the foreign policy of the European Union, said that every agreement reached behind the back of the block “did not work” and that the block would develop “new initiatives” supporting Ukraine if Kiiv decided to “resist” and the contract. She did not provide any further details about what it could be.
“Every quick amendment is a dirty contract,” said Kallas, in the comments reported by Reuters, adding that “we saw it earlier, he won't stop killing.”
Before the meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels on Thursday, HegeSeth denied the accusation that the US had betrayed Ukraine, seemingly imposing negotiations on it.
“There is no betrayal there. There is a recognition that the whole world and the United States are invested and interested in peace, “said HegeSeth, adding that the conversations” will require both sides that they do not want. “
A detailed view as members of Spanish and Bulgarian armed forces take part during NATO exercises, steadfast dart on February 13, 2025 at Tsranch, Bulgaria.
Hristo Rusev Getty Images News Getty images
European officials also criticized the gloomy position of Trump's administration in the future membership of NATO in Ukraine and the possibility of regaining the entire territory that has lost Russia since 2014.
“This is a regrettable and I say it myself, but it is part of the truth. The Trump administration has already publicly established Putin before negotiations began, “said German defense minister Boris Pistorius on Thursday.
“In my opinion, it would be better to talk about the possible membership of NATO of Ukraine or a possible loss of territory in the country at the negotiating table and not remove it from the table before,” Pistorius added, in the comments translated by Reuters.