Lyse Doucet
Chief International Correspondent

This year’s Munich Security Conference is being hailed as historic.

There is a significant awakening to the fact that the traditional “transatlantic partnership”—the strong bond between Europe and the United States—is currently fractured.

In recent days, numerous European leaders have seen their greatest fears about their ties with President Trump’s administration confirmed.

They realize that they cannot anticipate being involved in discussions aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine.

Furthermore, they have learned that high-level discussions this week involving the US and Russia will not include Ukraine at all.

“Europe must take a stand. We must determine the next steps to empower Ukraine to dictate its own future,” stressed Estonia’s Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna after a meeting organized by Europe’s foreign policy leader Kaja Kallas.

This situation has triggered an urgent meeting among some leaders in Paris on Monday to deliberate Europe’s response, primarily focusing on strengthening its resolve and mobilizing its resources.

Numerous participants expressed that this year’s Munich Security Conference was “mind-boggling,” with a torrent of sometimes conflicting ideas from President Trump’s team regarding the resolution of the war in Ukraine and other critical topics.

This moment is crucial for Europe. It is imperative to establish a new and effective relationship with Washington promptly, as there is too much at stake.