As the US engages in direct negotiations with Moscow, the EU remains on the sidelines, relegated to a secondary role—or, for the first time in decades, to a position distinct and distant from that of the American superpower. Washington appears to view geopolitics as a series of transactional deals between major powers, scaling back its traditional role as the leader of the West. Trump’s ambiguity is evident: on one hand, he seeks a pragmatic peace; on the other, his statements—such as accusing Ukraine of having “started the war”—undermine American credibility. In Europe, alarm is growing: Macron has convened an emergency summit, while Brussels scrambles to re-enter the diplomatic arena. Meanwhile, a shadow looms over the West, as a wave of autocracy gains ground: Trump, Orbán, and other populist leaders are challenging the post-Cold War liberal order. If the EU fails to assert itself as an autonomous player, the risk is that Europe’s future will be decided without it.