By John Q. Hosedrinker 
European leaders recently warned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy against making concessions to Russia without firm security guarantees from the United States. During a phone call, figures including French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized the necessity of US involvement in any future agreement’s security guarantees. This advice stemmed from concerns that Washington hasn’t clarified its response to potential Russian violations of a peace agreement. The warnings represent another instance of European leaders attempting to influence peace talks primarily led by the US with Russia and Ukraine.
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Europe’s warning to Zelenskyy against making concessions to Russia without firm US security guarantees, as reported by the WSJ, sets off some major alarm bells. The immediate question popping into mind is: why would Ukraine trust *anybody’s* guarantees at this point, especially considering the track record of the United States? The very idea of US security guarantees feels like a hollow promise, and that’s the core of the issue.
The skepticism is certainly warranted. The US, for many, is no longer seen as a reliable partner. Its promises, in the current climate, seem as fragile as a house of cards. The situation is complicated further by the knowledge of who is involved. Zelenskyy knows how to play the angles, he is in a position where he needs help. Ukraine needs all the support they can get, but trusting anyone is extremely difficult, and it’s understandable why. He’s been demanding firm security guarantees since the beginning of this crisis, but many view the US as the ultimate untrustworthy partner.
So, where does that leave Ukraine? The sentiment is clear: Europe needs to step up. The US, as it stands, is no longer a trustworthy player in this field. If not the US, then who? The only way out of this for Ukraine, it seems, is for Europe to shoulder the responsibility. Why aren’t *they* providing the guarantees? It’s their backyard, after all. Why depend on a country across an ocean that seems to be pulling back from global commitments?
The problem isn’t just about the US. The article makes it clear that security guarantees, no matter who gives them, will be worthless unless they are backed by the willingness to fight Russia. And that’s the big elephant in the room. No one wants to fight Russia directly, which is why these “guarantees” are fundamentally hollow. So there is concern about potential concessions to Russia without strong, actionable backing.
The US, however, has become a far-right revolutionary state. The whole worldview this concept is based on goes against the premise of their movement. This has led to the unfortunate conclusion that US guarantees, particularly under a potential Trump presidency, are essentially worthless. The comparison to historical actions, such as the US tearing up agreements in the past, only reinforces this distrust.
It all boils down to the fact that security guarantees are only as good as the commitment behind them. Without a willingness to act, to stand up to Russia, any promise is just an empty statement. The only way for Ukraine to be safe is to defeat Russia. There shouldn’t be any concessions made to Russia, the aggressor.
Many of these viewpoints come together with a sense of sadness. Knowing that Russia is close to winning is heartbreaking. The US, with its own internal divisions and shifting allegiances, simply can’t be relied upon. The US has lied in the past and will continue to lie in the future.
The whole situation reinforces how important it is to be a united front against any form of aggression, and it leaves Ukraine at a vulnerable crossroads.