Updated: 2025-03-08 07:00:00
Editor’s Note: On Tuesday, French senator Claude Malhuret delivered a compelling speech regarding the ramifications for Europe stemming from the shift in American policy concerning Ukraine. Malhuret, who previously served as the mayor of Vichy, is also a doctor and an epidemiologist, and has held the position of head of Doctors Without Borders. Currently, he represents the district of Allier as a member of the center-right Horizons party. His speech, marked by a sense of urgency and powerful rhetoric, quickly gained traction on social media.
Europe currently stands at a pivotal moment in its history. The once-reliable American support is waning, Ukraine faces potential abandonment, and Russia is gaining strength. The situation is reminiscent of a tragic narrative, where Washington resembles a court of Nero, characterized by a volatile emperor and subservient courtiers.
This crisis poses a grave threat not only to the free world but primarily to the United States itself. [President Donald] Trump’s stance indicates that being an ally has become futile; he threatens tariffs on allies while favoring dictators who invade them.
The so-called “king of the deal” appears oblivious to the consequences of his actions, believing he can intimidate China by yielding to Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, President Xi Jinping is likely viewing this turmoil as an opportunity to advance his own territorial ambitions in Taiwan.
In history, there has never been a U.S. president who has capitulated to an enemy or supported an aggressor while undermining allies. The current administration is trampling on the Constitution, threatening judicial independence, and seeking to dominate social media.
This is not merely a slide toward illiberalism; it marks the onset of a democratic seizure. It’s a stark reminder that the fall of the Weimar Republic was accomplished in a matter of weeks.
[Read: How Hitler dismantled democracy in 53 days]
Despite my confidence in the resilience of American democracy, the nation is already expressing dissent. In just one month, Trump has inflicted more damage than during his previous four years in office. We are now contending with a dictator supported by a traitor.
Only eight days ago, while Trump was praising French President Emmanuel Macron at the White House, the United States voted alongside Russia and North Korea against European calls for the withdrawal of Russian troops.
Two days later, in the Oval Office, Trump lectured Ukrainian President and war hero Volodymyr Zelensky, treating him with disdain, and demanding submission or resignation.
That night, he further disgraced himself by halting the promised delivery of military aid. In light of such betrayal, our response must be resolute: Stand firm.
Let there be no doubt: the defeat of Ukraine would equate to the defeat of Europe. The Baltic states, Georgia, and Moldova are already on Putin’s radar. His objective is to restore the Yalta Agreement, which previously divided half the continent to Stalin.
The countries of the global South are observing the conflict’s outcome closely, weighing their respect for Europe against the potential for unchecked aggression.
Putin seeks to dismantle the world order established by the United States and its allies over the past 80 years, a system fundamentally grounded in the prohibition of territorial acquisition through force.
This principle underpins the UN’s foundation, yet today Americans find themselves voting in favor of aggressors instead of the victims, as the Trumpian ideology aligns with Putin’s vision of power dynamics favoring strong nations over smaller states.
Greenland, Panama, and Canada are mine. Ukraine, the Baltics, and Eastern Europe are yours. Taiwan and the South China Sea are his.
Such diplomatic discussions are often dismissed as “realism” among golf-playing elites at Mar-a-Lago.
We are, therefore, isolated. The notion that Putin is invulnerable is a fallacy. In reality, Russia is struggling. Over the last three years, this so-called second-largest military power has seized only minor territories from a nation with a significantly smaller population.
With soaring interest rates at 21 percent, plummeting foreign reserves, and a demographic crisis, Russia is teetering on the brink. The U.S.’s support for Putin represents an unprecedented strategic blunder during wartime.
This shocking reality has jolted Europe from its denial. A single day in Munich revealed that the fate of Ukraine and the future of Europe now rests in their hands, emphasizing three crucial imperatives.
First, Europe must ramp up military support for Ukraine to counteract American retreat, ensuring that Ukraine remains viable and secures its position in future negotiations.
This endeavor will be costly and necessitates breaking the taboo on utilizing Russia’s frozen assets. Additionally, it requires circumventing Moscow’s allies within Europe, forming a coalition of willing nations, including the United Kingdom.
Second, any agreement reached must guarantee the return of abducted children and prisoners, alongside absolute security assurances. Past agreements have proven to be worthless; thus, military strength is essential to deter further invasions.
Finally, and most critically due to the time required, Europe must establish a robust defense system, having relied on American support since 1945 and allowing it to languish post-Berlin Wall.
The task at hand is monumental, but history will judge today’s European leaders based on their success or failure.
Friedrich Merz has recently stated that Europe needs its own military alliance, acknowledging France’s long-standing call for strategic autonomy.
This vision must be realized through significant investment in the European Defense Fund, harmonizing military systems, expediting Ukraine’s EU membership, re-evaluating nuclear deterrence roles, and revitalizing missile defense and satellite programs.
For Europe to reclaim its status as a military power, it must also re-establish itself as an industrial powerhouse. However, the true rearmament lies in a moral renaissance.
It’s imperative to galvanize public sentiment amidst war fatigue and the fear instilled by Putin’s far-right and far-left collaborators.
They claim to seek peace, yet their vision entails capitulation—peace that signifies defeat, replacing a de Gaullian Zelensky with a Ukrainian Pétain under Putin’s thumb. This is the peace favored by those who have consistently failed to support the Ukrainians.
Is this the impending collapse of the Atlantic alliance? The risk is substantial. However, recent events, including Zelensky’s public humiliation and the erratic decisions of the past month, have sparked a response from Americans. Polls are declining, and Republican officials face unwelcome receptions in their districts. Even Fox News is growing critical.
Trumpists may control the executive branch, Congress, the Supreme Court, and social media, but history reveals that the champions of freedom ultimately prevail. They are beginning to assert themselves.
The resolution of Ukraine’s fate will unfold on the battlefield, yet it also hinges on the defenders of democracy within the United States, and our collective ability to unite Europeans to forge a common defense strategy, restoring Europe to its former power.
Our forebears triumphed over fascism and communism through great sacrifice. Our generation’s duty is to vanquish the totalitarian threats of the 21st century. Long live free Ukraine, long live democratic Europe.
