The question of whether Europe will be able to step into the shoes of the US and continue to provide aid to the Ukrainian army and support the resistance has been on the table for a long time.
Firstly, it should be clearly understood that the US has been weakening for a year and now is at a peak point where tomorrow is completely unknown. As an example, President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Washington this week, emphasising that “Ukrainians haven’t given up and won’t give up,” but nothing is yet known about help.
There are pressing concerns that Europe will not be fully up to the task, as the American machine has been present on the continent for decades and it is impossible to renew what is gone in a short period of time, which is why German politicians are already vocal about this need.
As a consequence, European officials are asking American leaders to continue helping Ukraine, while Russia’s strategy in the war demands that the West stop its support because it is pointless. The unsettled political situation means that European leaders need to realise the gravity of this situation when they will now be in the shoes of the US when they have to run production to sustain the war in Ukraine.
This means that it is time for Europe to start investing in weapons – both to support Ukraine and to ensure that it is not left defenceless. Moreover, there may frankly be no other choice, as Russia is clearly preparing for a long war.
If Europe does not act now, the consequences will be far greater future costs as Russia remains undefeated and undaunted.
“European countries are trying to manage an increasingly dangerous situation from an unsustainable peacetime defence and industrial posture,” Justin Bronk wrote for the Royal United Services Institute.
There may be no other choice, as Russia is clearly preparing for a long war. If Europe does not act now, “the consequences will be far greater future costs as Russia remains undefeated and undaunted.”
