Part 6/9:
It is critical to highlight that the recent meetings between the U.S. and Russia—in Saudi Arabia and Istanbul—sought to hash out an end to the Ukraine conflict, seemingly without the EU's presence or input. Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who has taken a hardline stance on Ukraine, acknowledged that Europe lacks the military heft to engage without American support, particularly against Russia’s capabilities. Tusk's commentary brings to light how dependent EU nations are on U.S. military backing, raising questions about Europe's agency on the global stage.