The showdown over Ukraine in Washington is shaping up to be the ultimate stress test for the transatlantic relationship. The arrival of a unified European delegation to oppose Donald Trump’s peace plan puts the alliance under immense pressure, with the future of Western unity hanging in the balance.
This “bodyguard” mission for Volodymyr Zelenskyy pits the core interests and values of the European Union directly against the stated intentions of the US President. How this conflict is resolved will have ramifications for decades to come.
The test will reveal the true strength of the alliance’s foundations. Can the shared history, economic ties, and security architecture withstand a direct clash of wills between the White House and the leaders of every major European power?
The European leaders are betting that the relationship is strong enough to endure this stress test. They believe that by presenting a reasonable, united, and principled stand, they can guide their American ally away from a path they see as disastrous. But if Trump refuses to budge, the cracks in the alliance could become a chasm.