Written by Lisa Murimi
A jolt ran through Europe on Wednesday after U.S. President Donald Trump made a stunning rhetorical U-turn on Ukraine, backing Kyiv’s full territorial recovery from Russia while leaving the question of American commitment hanging in the air.
For Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, the message was clear: Europe can no longer rely on Washington’s shadow.
“We have to grow up,” he told Deutschlandfunk radio. “We must become more sovereign. Not all European states have delivered what they promised Ukraine. We need to ask ourselves what more we can do.”
Trump’s words, posted on Truth Social, marked a dramatic reversal. Just weeks ago, he had courted Vladimir Putin in Alaska and suggested Ukraine should cede land to end the war. Now, after admitting those efforts had failed, he is putting the responsibility squarely on Europe.
Officials across the continent interpreted the pivot as both warning and opportunity.
“He seems to be saying his goodbyes, no?” one Western European diplomat told Reuters. An Eastern European envoy was blunter:
“Trump is sending the message that Ukraine is Europe’s question now.”
For Kyiv, the stakes are existential. The United States has been its largest weapons supplier, and even a partial American retreat would force Europe to bridge a gap that could decide the war’s outcome.
European capitals have increased defense spending, supplied air defense systems, and are now debating whether to tap frozen Russian assets to fund further aid. But as Wadephul admitted, “stepping up will not be easy.”
Markets immediately sensed the gravity of the moment. European defense stocks surged, with aerospace and defense shares on the STOXX index climbing near record highs.
Investors appeared to bet that Europe, whether willingly or reluctantly, would pour billions more into its defense industries.
Yet beyond the numbers lies a deeper reckoning. For decades, Europe has lived under the American security umbrella. Trump’s pivot is a reminder that this shield may not always be there.
“This is both good news and a wake-up call,” Wadephul warned. “Trump acknowledges his failure with Putin. Now it is on us.”
For a continent long hesitant to define its own military destiny, the question is no longer abstract. Europe’s credibility – and Ukraine’s survival – may depend on whether it finally grows up.
