Time: European leaders have no influence over Trump

Events of the past week have shown that despite all their efforts, European leaders have no influence over US President Donald Trump, who subjects them to relentless criticism.

According to Time, a leading US-based weekly news magazine, this grim reality is especially unwelcome at a moment when the White House appears determined to force a peace agreement on Ukraine, a move Trump hopes will bring an end to the largest land war in Europe since World War II.

The authors believe that the peace plan presented by the United States is essentially a capitulation to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump’s plan would cede more Ukrainian territory to Putin than Russia currently controls. It would compel Ukraine to effectively amend its constitution, barring NATO membership in return for uncertain security guarantees, in case Putin decides to pursue further territorial gains.

In addition, the American leader, in an interview with Politico, accused Europe of doing nothing on the Ukrainian front.

The piece notes that Trump’s words will have stung for two reasons.

“First, he [Donald Trump] has largely carved Europeans out of the Ukraine peace process—despite the war’s outcome mattering more to Europe than America—by negotiating over their heads directly with the Kremlin,” the article stated.

Second, the article points out, there is very little Europeans can do to push back at Trump. European allies are ramping up defence spending and intensifying their focus on continental security, but are still utterly reliant on the US security umbrella.

“These are terrifying times for Europe. Between the frontline pressures in Ukraine, Russian incursions into European airspace, and the White House warming to the Kremlin, the only option leaders now have is to ride two horses at once, hoping they don’t get bucked off. Europe’s fate is no longer in its own hands,” the article read.

Amid growing tensions over Ukraine and US-Europe relations, European leaders are navigating a precarious path.

European Council President António Costa warned the United States against intervening in European internal affairs after the new US national security strategy appeared to treat European governments’ domestic politics as relevant to American interests.

The recently published US National Security Strategy has sparked sharp criticism across Europe — including from French officials — after characterising many EU states as weak and suggesting the US may “cultivate resistance” inside Europe.

At the same time, the European Union and the United States continue to advance trade and investment cooperation: they concluded a joint framework agreement in 2025 and, in late November, held another round of implementation dialogue aimed at strengthening predictability and stability in transatlantic investment ties.

By Jeyhun Aghazada