Peter Baker

It's a real test because time and time again, Europeans have said, yeah, we're going to step up and take more of the burden from the United States without actually following through. And they have risen to the occasion with Ukraine over these last three years. They've actually donated more money for Ukraine's defense than the United States has. You may have heard Trump say the opposite.

It's a real test because time and time again, Europeans have said, yeah, we're going to step up and take more of the burden from the United States without actually following through. And they have risen to the occasion with Ukraine over these last three years. They've actually donated more money for Ukraine's defense than the United States has. You may have heard Trump say the opposite.

He's wrong about that. But it's still a question whether they can do everything that Ukraine would need and would lose without American support. And for Europe, it really is a moment of truth.

He's wrong about that. But it's still a question whether they can do everything that Ukraine would need and would lose without American support. And for Europe, it really is a moment of truth.

That's right. I mean, you know, they don't expect U.S. to put troops on the ground. What they would like would be air support or logistical support or intel support and mainly just political and geopolitical support.

That's right. I mean, you know, they don't expect U.S. to put troops on the ground. What they would like would be air support or logistical support or intel support and mainly just political and geopolitical support.

The idea that the United States is behind them on this and that Russia ought not to try anything because it would not just be aggravating Europe, but aggravating the United States and taking a real chance there. And it's not clear that Trump wants to do that. He said, I don't really care too much about what the security says.

The idea that the United States is behind them on this and that Russia ought not to try anything because it would not just be aggravating Europe, but aggravating the United States and taking a real chance there. And it's not clear that Trump wants to do that. He said, I don't really care too much about what the security says.

Situation is after I make peace, he trusts Vladimir Putin to keep the deal. Doesn't believe that there really needs to be any security guarantee because he thinks Putin can be trusted. Well, nobody in Ukraine thinks that and very few people in Europe think that.

Situation is after I make peace, he trusts Vladimir Putin to keep the deal. Doesn't believe that there really needs to be any security guarantee because he thinks Putin can be trusted. Well, nobody in Ukraine thinks that and very few people in Europe think that.

Yeah, I think it's really one of the essential questions out of all this. Look, in the immediate aftermath of this meltdown in the Oval Office, he tried to smooth it over first with social media posts and later with an interview on Fox News and in other comments saying, you know, look, thank you, America. Thank you to the president.

Yeah, I think it's really one of the essential questions out of all this. Look, in the immediate aftermath of this meltdown in the Oval Office, he tried to smooth it over first with social media posts and later with an interview on Fox News and in other comments saying, you know, look, thank you, America. Thank you to the president.

And it was him, I think, trying to smooth it over in his own way. But he is a man of pride, too. He's a man struggling to save his country from an aggressor. And there's only so far he was willing to go. He said on Fox News, he didn't think he had anything to apologize for. He regretted it. He was sorry it happened, but he didn't think he had done anything wrong. And you're right.

And it was him, I think, trying to smooth it over in his own way. But he is a man of pride, too. He's a man struggling to save his country from an aggressor. And there's only so far he was willing to go. He said on Fox News, he didn't think he had anything to apologize for. He regretted it. He was sorry it happened, but he didn't think he had done anything wrong. And you're right.

Trump, if they put this back together, and it's possible that they do, Trump will want him to come back in a supplicant form. And Vladimir Zelensky is a lot of things, but he doesn't really have the flattery gene that some of these other foreign leaders use to suck up to Trump. It's just not his nature.

Trump, if they put this back together, and it's possible that they do, Trump will want him to come back in a supplicant form. And Vladimir Zelensky is a lot of things, but he doesn't really have the flattery gene that some of these other foreign leaders use to suck up to Trump. It's just not his nature.

And we'll see whether or not he can do that, whether he should do that, whether that would be enough, even if he did. This is the new order right now. And the new order is, you know, if you are not deferential to Trump, he will punish you. So for Zelensky, the choice here basically is how far is he willing to defer? How far is he willing to flatter?

And we'll see whether or not he can do that, whether he should do that, whether that would be enough, even if he did. This is the new order right now. And the new order is, you know, if you are not deferential to Trump, he will punish you. So for Zelensky, the choice here basically is how far is he willing to defer? How far is he willing to flatter?

How far is he willing to subordinate himself on some level to Trump? And if he did do that, would it even work? Would it even get him what he really thinks he needs?

How far is he willing to subordinate himself on some level to Trump? And if he did do that, would it even work? Would it even get him what he really thinks he needs?