FROM EUROPE WAR-THRUNG

80 years ago ended World War II, which followed the Great War, World War I, started in 1914 and ended in 1918. That is, less than 20 years between the end of the first and the beginning of the second war. And this week marks three years since Russia invaded Ukraine, making the world tremble and sowing terror and fear in Europe, deaths and injuries on both sides, displacement of millions of people, disruption of supply of agricultural products and industries around the world, in addition to high prices and billions of dollars spent on weapons. Suddenly the world was redesigned and lived the fear of a new war, including nuclear.

The United States and European countries felt threatened and reacted to the Russian aggression. They would ring militarily, using the most modern military equipment and declared economic sanctions against Russia. It has allied itself with China, the sanctions have no effects, and even allocating 43% of its budget to the war effort, the Russian economy survived the conflict well. Putin's regime has strengthened internally, China too, and the end result is that Trump thought it was time to end the conflict, making the most of the United States.

Without North American support, Europeans, after the Paris conference of the most important European countries, express doubts, but also recognize that they alone cannot defeat Russia. It was like that in the two world wars and it was like that in the Balkan conflict. The GIs, American soldiers in their various forms, saved Europe and imposed peace. And this time it was no different: Trump and Putin understood each other, sent their chancellors to sit at the table and gave orders to find a solution. Neither the Europeans nor Ukraine were invited.

Russia was not at the negotiating table as defeated, even if some do not consider it a winner. She militarily dominates a good piece of Ukrainian territory and now begins the discussion on how to contain Russian advances not only in Ukraine but also in Europe. The Russians will hardly accept Ukraine in the European Union, but they have already warned that in NATO, a military alliance that Trump hates, under no circumstances. Ukraine became, as in other times in history, a pawn in the game of powers. The unfolding of the conflict today is very reminiscent of the invasion of Nazi Germany from Czechoslovakia, which was accepted by Westerners without reacting and allowed Hitler to do what he did next.

The European Union and Great Britain will have to build a defense against Russia, knowing that the transatlantic military alliance no longer protects them. It changed the concept of defense in the Trump administration, which allies itself with Putin and also Xi, marginalizing Europe. So much more than peace in Ukraine is at stake. It's peace in the world.