Ukraine’s leader pushes for a unified European military, warning that the continent can no longer rely on the U.S. amid rising Russian threats.
President Zelenskyy calls for an “Armed Forces of Europe,” arguing that Europe must defend itself without relying on the U.S. as war with Russia drags on.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy just threw down the gauntlet to European leaders—demanding the creation of an independent European military force as doubts grow over U.S. support and Russia’s aggression intensifies. At the Munich Security Conference, Zelenskyy delivered a stark warning: Europe can no longer depend on Washington for protection.
Trump’s backchannel talks with Putin have fueled Kyiv’s fears that Ukraine could be sidelined in a deal that favors Moscow. With U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth openly dismissing the possibility of Ukraine regaining its pre-2014 borders, Zelenskyy sees the writing on the wall—Europe must take its own security into its hands.
His call for a European military alliance—potentially a “NATO alternative” for Ukraine—marks a historic shift. He questioned U.S. commitment, stating: “Does America need Europe? As a market, yes. As an ally—I don’t know.”
If Zelenskyy’s European Army vision gains traction, it could reshape the continent’s defense strategy for decades. But if Europe hesitates, Ukraine may be forced into a compromise that emboldens Moscow—a nightmare scenario for Kyiv and beyond.
