**Donald Trump’s Election a Blow to Ukraine and Europe**
The election of Donald Trump as the 47th president of the United States has given Russian President Vladimir Putin reason to be hopeful. Trump has often praised Putin and indicated that he will stop providing support to Ukraine, including weapons, intelligence, and financing, in its defense against Russian aggression.
**US Support for Ukraine Will Soon Be Withdrawn**
With Republicans gaining control of both houses of Congress, US support for Ukraine will soon be withdrawn. This means that Europe will no longer be able to rely on the United States to provide financial and military aid to Ukraine. Europe does not have the capacity or willingness to fill this gap.
**Putin’s Losses in Syria**
Despite recent developments in Syria being seen as a loss for Putin, it is not a win for the Ukrainians and Europe. However, Putin has lost a key ally with the downfall of Bashar al-Assad and another important partner, Iran, has been significantly weakened. The victory of Syrian opposition forces means that Iran will be deprived of its direct land bridge to Lebanon and the Mediterranean.
**A New Era of Uncertainty**
The arrival of Trump in the White House could mark a new era of uncertainty for Europe. One possibility is that Putin will negotiate a deal with Trump, in which Russia supports US-Israeli efforts to shut down Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for a face-saving partial victory in Ukraine. Another possibility is that Trump will simply roll over for Putin by forcing the Ukrainians into ceasefire negotiations and territorial concessions without any effective Western security guarantees.
**A Grotesque Outcome**
Such an outcome would further alter Europe’s own security architecture, making NATO less relevant as long as Trump is in office. European security would depend on Ukrainian security, which would be tied to a fragile ceasefire that does not counter the constant threat of Russian hybrid warfare.
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