EU expects Trump to stop Russia, end war in Ukraine

BRUSSELS

The EU said on Friday that it expects the new Trump administration in the US to view the war in Ukraine as a threat not only to Europe but to the international order.

In response to an Anadolu reporter's question at the daily press briefing about the EU's plan, if the Trump administration suspends US support for Ukraine, European Commission spokeswoman Anitta Hipper cited remarks by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.

Earlier, at the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting in Germany, Kallas said, "If the US is unwilling, the EU is ready to take the lead in supporting Ukraine."

Hipper echoed these sentiments, emphasizing Kallas's assertion that “The US is our great ally.”

"We trust that the new administration also sees Russia's war of aggression, not only as a European problem but also as a challenge to the international-based world order. And this work can stop tomorrow or even today if the aggressor wants it," Hipper said.

"So if our allies are able to put an end to this aggression, this is most welcomed," she added.

Concern in Brussels

There is a sense of nervous anticipation in Brussels regarding the second Trump administration, which is set to begin on January 20.

Trump's first term was marked by significant tensions with the EU and its member states over issues ranging from economics to defense.

His signals about potentially withdrawing US support for Ukraine, a key player in the defense against Russian aggression, and his criticisms of NATO allies for insufficient defense spending reverberated across Brussels.

While the EU leadership has consistently emphasized the importance of its relationship with the US before and after the election, it is also preparing for worst-case scenarios.