Eleanor Beardsley

Thank you.

Well, you know, Europeans knew the Trump administration was going to be a rougher ride than the Biden administration, but they still held out hope that the U.S. and Europe could work together, especially on ending the war in Ukraine. But that illusion burst this week. First, there was U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's He basically told European allies the U.S.

Well, you know, Europeans knew the Trump administration was going to be a rougher ride than the Biden administration, but they still held out hope that the U.S. and Europe could work together, especially on ending the war in Ukraine. But that illusion burst this week. First, there was U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's He basically told European allies the U.S.

Well, you know, Europeans knew the Trump administration was going to be a rougher ride than the Biden administration, but they still held out hope that the U.S. and Europe could work together, especially on ending the war in Ukraine. But that illusion burst this week. First, there was U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's He basically told European allies the U.S.

has bigger priorities in Asia and Europe needs to take care of itself. That was followed by the Munich Security Conference this weekend, where Vice President J.D. Vance gave a scathing criticism of European democracy, a speech one European leader called, quote, fascist and anti-European.

has bigger priorities in Asia and Europe needs to take care of itself. That was followed by the Munich Security Conference this weekend, where Vice President J.D. Vance gave a scathing criticism of European democracy, a speech one European leader called, quote, fascist and anti-European.

has bigger priorities in Asia and Europe needs to take care of itself. That was followed by the Munich Security Conference this weekend, where Vice President J.D. Vance gave a scathing criticism of European democracy, a speech one European leader called, quote, fascist and anti-European.

Vance also met with a far-right opposition leader in Germany while refusing to meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Then there were the comments of U.S. advisor to Ukraine and Russia, General Keith Kellogg, who told the Europeans, we'll take your interests into account, but you won't be at the negotiating table to end the war.

Vance also met with a far-right opposition leader in Germany while refusing to meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Then there were the comments of U.S. advisor to Ukraine and Russia, General Keith Kellogg, who told the Europeans, we'll take your interests into account, but you won't be at the negotiating table to end the war.

Vance also met with a far-right opposition leader in Germany while refusing to meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Then there were the comments of U.S. advisor to Ukraine and Russia, General Keith Kellogg, who told the Europeans, we'll take your interests into account, but you won't be at the negotiating table to end the war.

Well, that was the cherry on the cake. President Trump gave no heads up to European allies or Ukraine before holding by all accounts what was a friendly hour and a half phone call with Putin, who Europeans consider an aggressor and pariah. Trump even went so far as to speak of lifting sanctions and bringing Russia back into the fold of nations.

Well, that was the cherry on the cake. President Trump gave no heads up to European allies or Ukraine before holding by all accounts what was a friendly hour and a half phone call with Putin, who Europeans consider an aggressor and pariah. Trump even went so far as to speak of lifting sanctions and bringing Russia back into the fold of nations.

Well, that was the cherry on the cake. President Trump gave no heads up to European allies or Ukraine before holding by all accounts what was a friendly hour and a half phone call with Putin, who Europeans consider an aggressor and pariah. Trump even went so far as to speak of lifting sanctions and bringing Russia back into the fold of nations.

Leaders left Munich yesterday morose and stunned, Ellie Tenenbaum told me. He's a security expert at the French Institute for International Relations. Let's listen.

Leaders left Munich yesterday morose and stunned, Ellie Tenenbaum told me. He's a security expert at the French Institute for International Relations. Let's listen.

Leaders left Munich yesterday morose and stunned, Ellie Tenenbaum told me. He's a security expert at the French Institute for International Relations. Let's listen.

And he says without its European allies by its side, the U.S. might try to strong-arm Ukraine into a bad deal.

And he says without its European allies by its side, the U.S. might try to strong-arm Ukraine into a bad deal.

And he says without its European allies by its side, the U.S. might try to strong-arm Ukraine into a bad deal.

Well, the leaders of eight nations are meeting at streamlined so they can move quickly. France, Britain, Poland, Italy, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and Denmark, plus two top EU officials and the head of NATO on the agenda is increasing military spending, which might mean discarding long established EU limits on budget deficits and authorizing massive spending.