The Observer view on the Trump-Zelenskyy clash: a moment of dark reckoning | Observer editorial

R.He treats the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr ZelenskyyBy US President Donald Trump, in what appears to be a confrontation similar to the White House in front of the international press, is one of the most shocking moments in US diplomacy for decades.

In this very hard and disturbing performance, the war leader was a democratic European country fighting against an illegal invasion by Russia, whose citizens saw the killing and the bombing of cities randomly, An ignorant and ignorant attack It is designed to humiliate.

Many monitor Trump’s strange and vice president, JD Vance -And the subsequent encouragement of their right-wing extremist political allies-they were exposed to the disease from what they saw: an American president directs the words of Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin. In the cold light of the day that followed, the world – and Europe in particular woke up – uncomfortable in the facts.

The United States, the country that designed itself an indispensable nation, may agree with the enemies of peace and democracy. If “America first” is just a crushing moment of the isolation that we have not seen from the start of America’s entry into World War II, then this will be destroyed enough. However, while they were assembled in London tomorrow, European leaders, including Kiir Starmer, should realize that European and global security features have turned.

The first lesson should be to recognize what was clear since Trump’s inauguration: The United States cannot be relied upon as a security, intelligent or commercial partner. Washington, which is worn by NATO and international security, is no longer given. By giving an expert to Russia already Hostile actions against European countries Besides Ukraine, including Britain, Trump made a common cause with the biggest threat facing Europe today.

It was reflected in Comment by Kaja CallasThe head of the European Union’s foreign policy, after the humiliating White House scene on Friday, said that “the free world needs a new leader.” Practically, this should mean someone to pretend that Trump can be fun and play.

The flow of consensus is almost to support European leaders of Zelinski and Ukraine After the White House meeting quickly follows a unit at the London Summit – concrete measures to support Ukraine and maintain the broader peace on the European continent.

All this means that difficult decisions must be taken quickly, in European capitals, not only on defensive spending but in recognition and communication with the public that the broader conflict with Russia – and without our support – cannot be conceived but must be effectively prepared.

Because, although it is easy to see Trump’s actions as the reaction, theatrical and narcissistic for an individual that is not very safe, the consequences go beyond that. If there is a glimmer of hope, regardless of how dark, this is that Trump’s poisonous officers are supported by the lack of cohesion and open weakness of the challenge.

It is important to evaluate the reality in which the world faces, and not the imagination that some want to see. Washington’s waiver of leadership and support for Ukraine requires a quick and unified response without warnings.

As Class suggests, this requires European leaders to express the values ​​they commit and how he will invite them, including material aid to Kiev. Since the Trump administration’s view is often strange and self -framing the foreign and commercial policy, the integration of unilateralism, regional expansion and isolation can only work in our deeply related world if other countries allow this.

America, as Zelinski noted, is truly subject to Putin’s work like Ukraine and Europe. Starmer’s visit to Washington was last week – after the French President, Emmanuel Macron – was a necessary attempt to influence Trump. This effort has failed, and it must be clear that there are now red lines, the most obvious is the threat to end our aid to Kyiv. After Friday’s events, it is already doubtful in many minds whether Trump should be granted The state’s visit to the United Kingdom.

What should be clear until No. 10 is that ending aid to Ukraine will be a very far move for the United Kingdom, even for this very abnormal system in Washington. Above all, Starmer and other European leaders should insist on the priority of one of the basic principles of post -World War, stipulated in international law: the region may not be obtained through military aggression.

The starting point for any peace in Ukraine should be the realization of the legitimacy of Putin’s aggressive, which began to include the Crimea in 2014. Ukraine must have a seat on the table in all discussions, free of threats and extortion from Trump and its allies. The goal of these discussions should be to see both the full withdrawal of Russian forces and the strong guarantees of Kyiv’s security. At this moment of darkness, we owe it not only for the people of Ukraine; We owe ourselves.