Donald Trump has given Vladimir Putin the immense prestige of a one-to-one meeting. But he has also raised tariffs on India for doing business with the same man. He ambushed Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office in February. But he hosted him again this week with some bonhomie. As for ending the war in Ukraine, he won’t give that violated nation a security guarantee of the kind that applies to Japan, the Philippines or indeed most of Europe. But he doesn’t rule out some kind of US backstop.
To all these cases of ambiguity, there is a natural reaction. “It could be worse.” I wonder.
If Trump were clear and consistent that he is abandoning Ukraine, as well as Europe and Nato, the continent would have no choice but to become militarily self-sufficient as soon as possible. It might fail, of course, but there could be little doubt what should be done. If Trump were clear and consistent that he stands with democratic Europe, to the death, there would be no problem. One of these situations is ideal. The other, while grim, is an impetus for Europe to change: a fixed point that its leaders and voters can plan around.