Just a year ago, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stood at the Munich Security Conference and declared that Putin’s fate was ‘to lose.’ At the time, few could have predicted just how drastically the geopolitical landscape would shift in the span of a year. Now, with Donald Trump back in the White House, everything has changed.
On Wednesday, Trump made a historic announcement: negotiations to end the war in Ukraine will ‘start immediately.’ This revelation, following a significant phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, sent shockwaves through EU establishment political circles. Trump emphasized that both leaders share a desire to prevent further loss of life and that they are committed to working together closely, even planning state visits to each other’s countries!
Trump also revealed his core diplomatic team for the peace talks, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Putin has invited Trump to Moscow to further discuss peace efforts and bilateral relations.
Shortly after his discussion with Putin, Trump reached out to Zelenskyy. The Ukrainian leader acknowledged their conversation, expressing Ukraine’s willingness to engage in peace talks. His post on X conveyed a sense of cautious optimism, highlighting Ukraine’s readiness to cooperate with the US to achieve ‘a lasting, reliable peace.’
Despair Among the EU’s Liberal Establishment
Trump’s peace initiative has left the European Union’s left-liberal elite reeling. For years, figures like European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have championed an aggressive stance toward Russia, pushing for Ukraine’s NATO membership and deeper military engagement. With Trump’s return, however, the political winds have shifted dramatically, leaving the EU’s most fervent war hawks increasingly isolated.
Hungary, under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, has been the lone Western advocate for peace in Ukraine from the very beginning. Budapest’s insistence on negotiations was dismissed and ridiculed by the EU’s mainstream establishment. Now, with Trump aligning US policy with Hungary’s long-standing position, the tables have turned. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó was among the first to welcome the Trump-Putin discussions, expressing hope that this could finally bring an end to years of bloodshed and destruction.
For three years, Hungary faced relentless attacks from Brussels for its peace-oriented stance. Orbán’s government endured constant accusations of undermining European unity, yet it remained steadfast. Now, von der Leyen and her allies find themselves politically stranded as the US—the very power upon which they depended—pivots towards diplomacy.
A New Europe: The Rise of National-Conservatives
While the liberal establishment in Brussels spirals into despair, national-conservative leaders like Viktor Orbán and Slovakia’s Robert Fico see an opportunity to reshape Europe. Trump’s withdrawal from the war effort signals a seismic shift—one that opens the door for a new European order built on sovereign decision-making, realistic foreign policy, and self-reliant defense.
For decades, Europe has depended on the United States to guarantee its security. Now, Washington is making it clear: the time has come for European nations to take responsibility for their own defense. This change is not a crisis—it is an opportunity for strong national leaders to build a Europe that prioritizes its own interests rather than blindly following Washington’s old interventionist playbook.
Orbán, Fico, and other national-conservatives have long argued that Europe should pursue pragmatic diplomacy rather than ideological crusades. Trump’s peace initiative vindicates their approach, proving that realpolitik—not utopian fantasies of ‘defeating’ Russia—is the only path toward stability.
The End of a Transatlantic Era
Trump’s new Secretary of Defense, Peter Hegseth, made it clear that Washington is shifting priorities. In a speech at NATO headquarters, Hegseth dismissed Zelenskyy’s demands for unconditional Western support. He explicitly ruled out Ukraine’s NATO membership, rejected the idea of deploying NATO troops, and confirmed that any future peacekeeping missions would exclude US participation.
‘The idea that Ukraine will return to its pre-2014 borders is unrealistic,’ Hegseth stated bluntly. ‘Chasing this illusionary goal will only prolong the war and cause more suffering.’
Furthermore, Hegseth emphasized that European nations must significantly increase their defense spending. Trump has long criticized NATO’s reliance on US military funding, and his administration is now making it clear: Europe must take responsibility for its own security. With this, the United States is effectively announcing its gradual withdrawal from European affairs, ending nearly a century of deep military entanglement on the continent.
The EU’s Self-Inflicted Crisis
Trump’s bold move has shattered the EU’s strategic illusions. The EU left’s reaction has been predictable—hysteria, fear-mongering, and desperate calls to escalate the conflict. Pro-war politicians in Germany, France, and the UK continue to insist that Ukraine must join NATO, even as Washington moves in the opposite direction.
More extreme voices, particularly in the Baltic states and Finland, have accused Trump of ‘betraying’ Ukraine. Some even suggest that Europe must prepare for military intervention independent of the US—a notion that exposes their deep strategic confusion. Without American backing, the EU’s military capabilities are severely limited. The dream of a unified European military is far from realization, leaving war hawks with no clear path forward.
However, what they fail to grasp is that Trump’s policy shift is not a betrayal of Europe—it is a necessary course correction. By stepping back, the US is forcing European nations to take ownership of their own security policies, free from American micromanagement. This is a chance for Europe to redefine its strategic priorities on its own terms.
A Historic Turning Point
The Trump-Putin peace talks mark a pivotal moment in global politics. For Ukraine, they offer a long-overdue opportunity to end the bloodshed. For the EU, they signal the decline of Brussels’ war-mongering establishment and the rise of pragmatic, sovereignty-focused leadership. For the United States, they represent the fulfillment of Trump’s America First doctrine—ending wasteful foreign entanglements and refocusing on national priorities.
The despair of the EU’s left-liberal elite is palpable, but for leaders like Orbán and Fico, this is the dawn of a new era. The European political landscape is shifting, and national-conservatives have a unique opportunity to shape its future.
