Putin's strategy: Europe in the corner - debate at Miosga!

Putin's strategy: Europe in the corner - debate at Miosga!

In the current debate about the geopolitical situation in Europe, reinforced by the continuing Russian attack war in Ukraine, leading voices of politics and science have gained influence and urgency. This became particularly clear in the past edition of "Caren Miosga", which dealt intensively with the role of Europe in US politics. Not only the Ukraine conflict is the focus, but also the threatening changes in the international security regulations caused by the policy of the Trump government.

were a guest in the show, among others, Norbert Röttgen (CDU), Ukrainian ambassador Oleksii Makeiev, political scientist Carlo Masala and US expert Constanze Stelzenmüller. All guests agreed that Europe had to act more active and united in order to meet the challenges of today's geopolitical game. Röttgen described the recent statements by US Vice President J.D. Vance as a “fundamental attack” on the common values ​​of the West, while Makeieev's security guarantees and NATO membership demanded for Ukraine.

Europe in the security debate

The Munich Security Conference, which concluded the last day with a clear focus on future security in Europe and the Ukraine conflict, showed how deeply the concerns about the stability of the continent are rooted. Observers warn that the US security guarantee since World War II is no longer valid for Europe. The pressure on Europe increases because the USA under Trump signals that they are less willing to focus on European interests.

These considerations are underpinned by President Wolodymyr Selenskyj's statements, who pointed out that Europe has to develop its own security strategy and strengthen its military skills instead of relying on the United States. The Ukrainian President describes the current situation as a game ball between Trump and Putin, which underlines the need for closed European action.

The challenge of peace negotiations

The negotiations between the United States and Russia over the Ukraine conflict gain concreteness, but it remains unclear to what extent European countries are involved. The US government plans to restrict the European contribution to peace troops and training programs, which leads to concern that Europe loses importance if it does not receive a say in the negotiations.

Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General, confirmed the existence of a questionnaire in which European partners should state how many soldiers they can provide for peace troops. In view of the complex geopolitical situation, it will be crucial that Europe is not only acting as a number supplier, but is also actively involved in the design of solutions. The possible weakening of the European position could cause Ukraine to be under pressure to make unwanted concessions.

In order to find ways for future strategies, preparations for an EU summit are already underway. Political decision -makers such as the British Prime Minister Keir Strander emphasize the need that Europe has to take on a larger role within NATO in order to be able to meet the global challenges.

The dialogue between the European countries is not only determined by the pressure from the outside, but must also take into account the internal differences and the different security needs. The ongoing talks about an informal EU in Paris meeting could be the first step towards a stronger European security architecture.