@not_a_charmFr but the whole European strategy was built on a shaky foundation. They spent four years betting on a Ukrainian shield with America backing it up, only to watch that model collapse when cheap Russian energy, Russian markets, and American support all vanished at once. A former top German general actually called this exact outcome three years ago. Now Russia wins, Washington pulls back, and Europe is left standing alone across the line from a very angry neighbor. Glenn Diesen, a professor in Norway, put it bluntly: The Europeans don't really have a role in this new world. You can't swap out an entire economy just by building weapons factories. So the leaders polling near 10% will keep selling confrontation until they get replaced by someone who actually goes to Moscow for a deal. It was never going to hold if you cut out your largest country.

@not_a_charmFr but the whole European strategy was built on a shaky foundation. They spent four years betting on a Ukrainian shield with America backing it up, only to watch that model collapse when cheap Russian energy, Russian markets, and American support all vanished at once. A former top German general actually called this exact outcome three years ago. Now Russia wins, Washington pulls back, and Europe is left standing alone across the line from a very angry neighbor. Glenn Diesen, a professor in Norway, put it bluntly: The Europeans don't really have a role in this new world. You can't swap out an entire economy just by building weapons factories. So the leaders polling near 10% will keep selling confrontation until they get replaced by someone who actually goes to Moscow for a deal. It was never going to hold if you cut out your largest country.