"If we don't, the United States will withdraw from Europe," Finland's Mika Aaltola said on X.
Summary
A European Parliament member claimed that the U.S. gave Europe three weeks to agree on Ukraine's "surrender" terms or risk an American withdrawal from Europe.
Mika Aaltola made the claim on X, but provided no evidence. NBC News reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth suggested a U.S. troop reduction in Europe.
Trump reportedly plans to cut 20,000 troops and demand greater NATO contributions. He has pushed for higher NATO defense spending.
Trump may meet with Putin soon, believing Russia holds the upper hand in negotiations.
Being an American that feels like they no longer have a home, I would like Europe to unleash holy hell upon the US. Do not let this fascicle president dictate what you do for your continent. You were fine before we took over swaths of your countries for their bases, you can be the strong leaders that the West need to fight everything that's going on in your vicinity with Russia, North Korea, and any other rogue nation. I hate to say it, but the US is a part of that sentence as well. The US will not protect you anymore, I have absolutely no faith that the US will step up when you need them the most. Protect yourselves.
What would be the purpose of US support in Europe if not defending against Russia?
The US presence in Europe exists to facilitate US power projection, if we are not stopping Russian advancement then there is no reason for host countries to allow US bases in their territory.
Fuck him. First, he'll do what we wants regardless of whether you concede to his demands. If we wants to withdraw troops, he'll withdraw them, no matter what concessions you make to him in hopes of preventing that. Look at his history. Look at how he has treated the other party in Every. Single. One. of the "deals" that he's made. He fucks them over. NEVER believe he'll hold up his side of whatever bargain you make. He won't.
Don't ever concede to this bully. The more you concede, the more demands he'll make, like with a blackmailer. Call his bluff. Say, "Sorry, we don't agree. If that means you'll withdraw, then don't let the screen door hit ya where the good lord split ya on the way out." Bam! End of bullying and if he didn't want to withdraw, he'll find some excuse no to go through with it (or probably just lie and say you agreed to do something for him behind the scenes).
this is not confirmed, but seems credible enough to speculate about
regardless of veracity, European defense readiness needs a big boost, and people are working on the instruments that would allow giving that boost
another source says that Trump is planning cuts in the US armed forces, to the tune of 8% per year [sources that add "for multiple years" remain hearsay for me]
around January 20, I saw a table circulating on social media, describing Trump's intended cuts, and that table did drop about 21 brigades and paused the development of various capabilities (edit: found it)
so apparently, the Trump administration intends to lower its defense readiness no matter what, believing it has too much
On this background, not much point negotiating with him. He is framing as an ultimatum what he intends to do anyway. No point getting delayed either.
Just get the framework agreed upon, and quickly start supplying Ukraine with fresh stuff. Ukrainians aren't newbies, for now they have accumulated some small reserves (they knew what to expect under Trump, and Biden's administration pushed the last remains of its assistance out like there was no tomorrow)... but arrival of European assistance must start rapidly increasing within a window of 2..3 months.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Finland's Mika Aaltola of the European People's Party claimed that the U.S. "has given us three weeks to agree on terms for Ukraine's surrender," referring to a proposed peace deal aimed at ending the war.
"If we don't, the United States will withdraw from Europe," Aaltola added.
Trump is demanding that Europe hand Ukraine to Russia, or he will hand Europe to Russia. This man is not working for the good of the USA or its traditional allies. He is working against them, destroying Europe, NATO and the USA for the sake of himself, Vladimir Putin and a few Nazi billionaires.
And clearly when he threatens Europe like that they should not for a minute believe that he will not hand them over to Russia if they do what he says. Given that, Europe should tell him to get lost.
So three weeks to either suck up to the US until Russia snipes them off while the US does so as well. Trump opening up with wanting to acquire Greenland and Canada wasn't him being mad, it wasn't him being resentful, it wasn't him being a strong man, it was always within the context of where Trump's US along with Russia are positioning themselves now. Forget the bombing of Hiroshima, if a nuclear bomb got dropped in Ukraine or Europe, Trump and his followers would blame Europe and do nothing to help it. The US has gone from being schizophrenic bipolar to just being psychotic. COVID was a herald of the world that awaits them, people will get to decide if they follow it as slaves or die with some dignity, knowing that their legacy might be buried under a sea of lies.