A SHAMEFUL SPECTACLE WITH FAR-REACHING REPERCUSSIONS

View from Europe

Politics in this century continues to shake us and leave us in astonishment. Never did we imagine witnessing such an abrupt decline in the quality of political leadership, nor that the law of the strongest would be publicly embraced by the world’s most powerful nations. It once seemed impossible that the most aggressive, dangerous, and expansionist states—oppressive dictatorships all—could step in and out of the “closet of shame” and become international interlocutors whenever global economic interests or the great powers deemed it convenient.

Let us recall that two atrocious regimes, Iran and Venezuela, managed to return to oil markets to alleviate the inflation crisis—ironically triggered by sanctions against Russia. While geopolitics has never been a model of ethics, morality, or values, there were at least certain rules and principles in place to prevent humanity from spiraling into global conflicts with the ever-present risk of nuclear holocaust. That fragile balance, whatever was left of it, may now have been swept away—perhaps forever.

The disgraceful scene in the Oval Office of the White House, watched in astonishment by the entire world, seemed straight out of a film about a deeply dysfunctional family. The most basic rules of courtesy, diplomacy, and civilized relations between sovereign states were ignored—by both sides. Naturally, the host bears the greater responsibility, particularly when presenting himself as a mediator. President Trump and his Vice President, J.D. Vance—who, despite his often abrasive honesty, is generally regarded as polite and well-mannered—delivered what some have described as a meticulously orchestrated script.

During the heated exchange, Vice President Vance accused President Zelensky of having supported Kamala Harris’s campaign in October, just before the elections. Vance, however, seems to forget that he himself engaged in similar actions in Germany, aligning with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). After delivering his controversial speech at the Munich Security Conference, he traveled to Berlin to meet with Alice Weidel, the leader of the German far-right party. This, of course, is not to mention the unabashed political activism of Elon Musk, who has openly supported far-right movements across Europe, including the AfD.

To describe President Zelensky’s reaction, I will quote BBC Ukrainian journalist Myroslava Petsa, who posed the crucial question: What if Russia does not honor the ceasefire agreements? Speaking on the BBC’s Weekend program, she remarked that a president is held to a higher standard and that Zelensky had lost his composure, falling into precisely the trap set for him by his hosts. Meetings between heads of state can be extraordinarily tense, yet protocol dictates that decorum be maintained before the media and in public. Unfortunately, in this new era of crude, coarse politics—not exclusive to Trump—this is likely just the beginning.

Long-Term Repercussions

The long-term consequences of this transatlantic fracture will be profound and lasting. Even a moderate and measured leader like Friedrich Merz, head of Germany’s CDU and likely the next Chancellor, has stated that Europe must prepare to take firm steps toward strategic independence and defense, moving away from reliance on the U.S. Even before this incident, Merz had announced imminent agreements with the UK and France to extend a nuclear umbrella over Europe, anticipating potential shifts in the U.S. strategic defense posture. The vast majority of European leaders have reacted similarly, with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni emphasizing the need to do everything possible to salvage relations with the U.S. Notably, Budapest remains eerily silent.

The gravest aspect of all this is that President Trump’s isolationist pivot has been years in the making. Many members of Congress and Senate Republicans who were once unequivocally pro-Ukraine and critical of Russia have gradually shifted towards positions aligned with Trump and his circle. In the Trumpian worldview, isolationism, European indifference, hostility toward Ukraine, and even pro-Russian or Putinist sympathies—though distinct in origin and motivation—are all driven by a mix of political, personal, and ideological considerations. These range from a deeply ingrained but sincere America First mindset to the absurd views of ultra-conservative evangelical factions that see Putin and Trump as the new guardians of Christianity. The most dangerous of these influences, however, is the highly effective penetration of Russian propaganda, manipulation, disinformation, and even corruption.

Russian operatives in Europe and the U.S. are relentless. Some have even abandoned all pretense, boldly claiming that once Russia secures a ceasefire that cements its illegal conquests and annexations, it will refrain from further aggression because it “neither needs additional territory nor resources, as it already has plenty” (sic). If that were true, why have Finland and Sweden, after decades of neutrality, rushed to join NATO? Sweden, in particular, has abandoned what could be described as neutralism—a form of national identity-driven neutrality that was integral to its DNA until now.

As usual, Europeans are waking up too late. For decades, we have lived in a prosperity bubble, clinging to an illusion of peace that never truly existed. Our economic and social problems have only worsened, and our political class has proven incapable of addressing our most pressing challenges with solid and effective solutions. We chose to ignore strategic and security threats—and now we are paying the price.

In a recent debate on Azerbaijani television, I had the opportunity to engage with a Russian diplomat who, like all Kremlin-aligned media operatives, stubbornly reiterated the same three conditions Putin allegedly demanded to avoid invading Ukraine three years ago: first, so-called normalization—meaning the return of pro-Russian figures like Yanukovych to power; second, denazification—a preposterous claim not even worth addressing; and third, Ukraine’s demilitarization and Finlandization, a reference to the Soviet-imposed neutrality on Finland during the Cold War. The return to such maximalist Russian rhetoric has been undeniably emboldened by the new U.S. foreign policy under Trump 2.0.

The Looming Consequences

The implications could not be more alarming. Here are just a few, each deserving deeper analysis:

              1.           A severely weakened NATO – Trumpism fails to grasp that NATO’s deterrence power lies in collective defense synergy, where the sum of its parts far outweighs its arithmetic total. Article 5—the cornerstone of automatic defense (an attack on one member is an attack on all)—may now be critically wounded, if not fatally so.

              2.           An unprecedented erosion of transatlantic relations – Mutual distrust, animosity, and the emergence of divergent strategic interests could take at least a generation to mend.

              3.           A perilous peace favoring the aggressor – If an unjust peace rewards Russia while irreparably harming Ukraine, it will shatter the principles of international legality, legitimacy, and territorial integrity. This would embolden the world’s most aggressive regimes, sending the disastrous message that international thuggery not only goes unpunished but is rewarded.

              4.           A potential resurgence of proxy wars – Rogue states such as Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba, and especially Iran may seize the moment to rekindle destabilizing activities, reigniting proxy conflicts via Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Shia terrorist militias in Iraq, Syria, and Central Asia—sparking another regional or global conflagration with catastrophic consequences.

              5.           A resurgence of global terrorism – Whenever the West weakens or divides, the world’s worst actors gain strength. Jihadist terrorism—or any other despicable extremist ideology—will exploit these fractures to launch increasingly lethal attacks.

Short-sightedness, navel-gazing, and self-serving rhetoric have repercussions that extend far beyond the rooms of power—even when it’s  the Oval Office.

(Cover Photo: Volodymyr Zelensky meeting with U.S. Vice President @JDVance. I am grateful to him and his entire team for the discussion, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy General Keith Kellogg also taking part. Credit: Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Twitter)