Can Europe Fully Replace the U.S. as Ukraine’s Chief Protector?

The Trump administration has upended the U.S. approach to the war in Ukraine, largely siding with Russia as it tries to broker an end to the fighting. With Washington no longer interested in acting as Ukraine’s chief protector, the burden is shifting to Europe. But can it bear the load?

To launch Season 2 of Counterpoint, we put that question to Nathalie Tocci and Stephen M. Walt.

Tocci is the director of Italy’s Istituto Affari Internazionali and has worked as an advisor to the government of Italy and to EU officials. She argues that Europe can fully replace the United States in supporting Ukraine.

Walt, a professor of international affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School and longtime columnist at Foreign Policy, argues the other side of the case.

Counterpoint is a production of Foreign Policy, in partnership with the Doha Forum. It is hosted by FP deputy editor Sasha Polakow-Suransky.

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