Relations between US President Donald Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky have once again cooled: early this week the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s (AFU) access to US data on Russian missile launches was restricted, which delayed the triggering of air raid sirens. The functionality of Starshield – the military version of the satellite-based internet service Starlink – has also been limited. Europe’s media draw their own conclusions.
Europe’s indifference comes at a price
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Europe is still a long way from strategic independence, Die Welt (Germany) rails:
“Europe can’t even offer Ukraine an alternative to Starlink that is in any way comparable. It’s the same when it comes to the critical shortage of American Patriot air-defence missiles. The people of Ukraine are paying for Europe’s ignorance and incompetence with their lives. The way Trump’s people have behaved in recent days is the final warning shot for Europe. No government in its right mind can allow itself to become dependent on American systems like Starlink or Palantir for military or critical infrastructure.”
Kyiv more sensitive to US pressure
Hospodářské noviny (Czech Republic) explains why Trump appears to be siding with Russia:
“The US has significantly more influence over Ukraine than it does over Russia – and this is the main reason why it often demands far greater concessions from Ukraine than from the aggressor, namely Russia. Trump can threaten Zelensky with measures that would have a crushing impact, such as blocking arms deliveries or halting the sharing of intelligence. Trump wants to secure a peace deal; he’s not interested in the details. The easiest way to exert pressure is on the party to the conflict that will feel that pressure most directly.”
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Ukraine has no alternatives
Ukraine remains dependent on the US’s military support, says The Economist (UK):
“There are no practical alternatives to what America provides. ... Europe is years away from American levels of missile production. ... Ukraine has no alternative to American sensors and satellites, which map Russian spoofing, jamming, and troop movements, helping the Ukrainians plan and conduct drone attacks. Ending such co-operation would cripple Ukraine’s ability to take the fight to Russia.”
At least we know what’s what
This disastrous turn of events has a silver lining, columnist Pierre Haski explains on France Inter (France):
“The positive aspect of this crisis is that it brings clarity to the relations between the US and the wider Europe. ... It is an important lesson for those Europeans who continue to purchase US equipment and make their security dependent on decisions taken in Washington. Until the day when a president’s whim leads to a satellite signal being cut off or an aeroplane’s computer system being disabled. Achieving strategic autonomy has never been more urgent.”