Mr. Prime Minister, esteemed Ministers, dear colleagues,
Europe stands at a critical crossroads in its history. The American shield is
crumbling, Ukraine risks being left without support, and Russia –
strengthening. Washington has turned into Nero's court: an arsonist emperor,
subservient courtiers, and a jester, intoxicated with ketamine, responsible for
purges in the state apparatus.
This is a tragedy for the free world, but above all – for
the USA itself. Trump's message is unambiguous: being an ally of America is
pointless, because it will not protect you, will impose tariffs exceeding
sanctions against its enemies, and will threaten the seizure of your
territories, supporting dictators who attack you. The "King of Deals"
in fact demonstrates the art of capitulation.
He thinks he will intimidate China by groveling before
Putin, but Xi Jinping, observing this collapse, is surely accelerating
preparations for an invasion of Taiwan. Never in US history has a president
capitulated to an enemy. Never before has a head of the White House supported
an aggressor against an ally.
Never before has a president trampled on the Constitution so
brazenly: illegal decrees, dismissal of judges who could oppose him, instant
purge of military leadership, undermining all checks and balances, usurpation
of control over social networks. This is not just an "illiberal tilt"
– it is an attempt to usurp democracy. Suffice it to recall: the destruction of
the Weimar Republic took only a month, three weeks and two days.
I believe in the resilience of American democracy, and
protests in the country have already begun. But in just one month, Trump has
done more harm to America than in all four years of his previous presidency. We
were fighting against a dictator – now we are fighting against a dictator who
is helped by a traitor.
Eight days ago, when Trump patted Macron on the back in the
White House, the US voted in the UN together with Russia and North Korea –
against Europe, demanding the withdrawal of Russian troops. Two days later in
the Oval Office, the "army dodger" Trump lectured the war hero
Zelensky morally and strategically, and then sent him away like a negligent
lackey, declaring: "Obey or leave". Tonight he went even further – he
stopped the arms supplies that had already been promised.
How to respond to this betrayal? The answer is simple: fight
back. First of all – do not make mistakes. The defeat of Ukraine will be the
defeat of Europe.
The Kremlin's list already includes the Baltic countries,
Georgia, Moldova. Putin's goal is a return to Yalta, where half of Europe was
given to Stalin. And the countries of the Global South are waiting for the
outcome of this conflict to decide: whether to still respect Europe or whether
it can already be trampled upon.
Putin seeks to destroy the order established 80 years ago by
the US and its allies, the main principle of which is the prohibition of the
seizure of territories by force. This principle underlies the UN, and today
America votes for the aggressor and against the victim, because
"Trumpism" coincides with Putin's worldview. The return to spheres of
influence, where great powers decide the fate of small countries.
"Give me Greenland, Panama and Canada, you – Ukraine,
the Baltics and Eastern Europe, him – Taiwan and the South China Sea". In
the circles of Mar-a-Lago oligarchs this is called "diplomatic
realism". And in reality it means one thing: we are left alone.
But the assertion that Putin cannot be resisted is a lie. On
the contrary, despite Kremlin propaganda, Russia is weakening. In three years,
its "second army in the world" managed to conquer only crumbs from a
country three times smaller in population.
Interest rates at 25%, depletion of currency and gold
reserves, demographic collapse – Russia is on the brink of an abyss. US support
for Putin is the biggest strategic mistake in the history of wars. However,
this blow sobered Europe.
In one day in Munich, Europeans realized: the fate of
Ukraine and the future of Europe are in their hands. Now we have three top
priorities:
- Accelerate
arms supplies to Ukraine – compensate for America's betrayal, strengthen
its defense and assert European presence in any negotiations. This is
expensive, but necessary. It's time to break the taboo and use frozen
Russian assets, as well as create a coalition of resolute countries,
despite pro-Russian saboteurs within the EU.
- Any
agreement must provide for the return of abducted children, the release of
prisoners and absolute security guarantees. After Budapest, Georgia and
Minsk, we know the price of "agreements" with Putin. This means
that Europe must have sufficient military might to prevent a new invasion.
- Create
a European defense, abandoned after 1945 and undermined after the collapse
of the USSR. This is a titanic task, but future generations will judge the
current leaders of Europe by its success or failure.
Friedrich Merz stated that Europe needs its own military
coalition – which means France has been right all these decades, defending
strategic autonomy. Now it needs to be built.
Large-scale investments, a European defense fund outside the
Maastricht debt limits, unification of weapons systems, accelerated admission
of Ukraine to the EU – the first army of Europe. A new nuclear strategy based
on French and British forces. Development of missile defense and satellite
systems. Ursula von der Leyen's plan is a good start, but more will be needed.
Europe will become a military power again only if it regains
its status as an industrial superpower. This means that Mario Draghi's plan is
needed – and this time it will have to be implemented.
But the main factor in European rearmament is moral
mobilization. We must convince society, overcome fatigue, fear of war and
resistance from Putin's allies – the far-right and far-left. Yesterday they
again spoke in the National Assembly, Mr. Prime Minister, against European
unity, against European defense.
They say they want peace. But what they are really striving
for is capitulation. Their "peace" is defeat. This is the replacement
of de Gaulle-Zelensky with a Ukrainian Pétain, obedient to Putin. This is the
"peace" of collaborators who have been sabotaging any aid to Ukraine
for three years.
The end of the Atlantic alliance? The risk is great. But in
recent days, the humiliation of Zelensky and a series of insane decisions have
caused outrage in the US itself.
Trump's ratings are falling, Republicans in their districts
are met by hostile crowds, even Fox News has begun to criticize the president.
Trumpists still control the executive branch, Congress, the Supreme Court and
social networks, but in American history those who fought for freedom always
won. And they are already raising their heads.
The fate of Ukraine is decided in the trenches. But it also
depends on those in the US who are fighting for democracy, and on us – whether
we can unite Europe, create its defense shield and restore its status as a
great power.
Our ancestors defeated fascism and communism at the cost of
the greatest sacrifices. Our task is to defeat the totalitarianism of the 21st
century.
Glory to free Ukraine! Long live democratic Europe!
