Trump supporters couldn’t care less about Putin’s shadow war in Europe

Yesterday, Nicusor Dan, President of Romania, met with the Bulgarian Prime Minister, Rumen Radev, and the NATO Secretary-General, Mark Rutte, to discuss the ‘serious situation’ that has arisen in the Black Sea, where Russian attacks continue against commercial vessels passing through the economic zones under the jurisdiction of NATO countries bordering the sea. The leaders of the Atlantic Alliance have convened a meeting dedicated solely to the Black Sea, following weeks of attacks, rescue operations, ships ablaze and fatalities: European allies are on high alert; swarms of drones are now striking ships in transit day and night. Yesterday, it was the turn of a cargo ship flying the San Marino flag as it passed through Romanian territorial waters – seven crew members are still missing. No comments or aid have come from the United States, NATO’s main ally, as if the Black Sea were not a front line for the Alliance, as if they had not received the satellite images showing the expansion of the Millerovo military base – from which the drones terrorising commercial vessels are believed to be launched – as if defence here were a local matter rather than one for the entire Alliance. The Trump Administration downplays or ignores Russia’s so-called hybrid war – some are beginning to call it a ‘shadow war’ – against Europe: it prefers to let Russian ships pass through the Black Sea with impunity.

This is precisely the paradox that has arisen: in waters under NATO’s jurisdiction, ships supplying NATO countries are unable to sail – insurance costs have become astronomical – whilst Putin’s trade continues unhindered.

While Trump’s America remains silent when it comes to condemning Russia, it becomes, on the contrary, very forceful when it comes to imposing more or less arbitrary agreements on Ukraine and Europe. Yesterday, the Financial Times reported that the Americans had told the Europeans to unfreeze part of the Russian assets held in European financial institutions and to channel them into a fund managed by Washington, which will use them to restart negotiations on the war against Ukraine. In light of the latest agreements struck by Donald Trump with the Kremlin, it is plausible that these funds will ultimately end up in Russian coffers. The Europeans have unanimously rejected the idea, stating that these are assets held by European countries which are intended, at least in theory, for Ukraine; they made no further comments; considerable diplomatic effort has already been expended amongst European allies regarding the unfreezing of these frozen funds – to no avail, incidentally, given that in the end, due to fears of Russian financial retaliation, the assets were never moved. Nevertheless, the shared sense of restraint was notable, given that in recent hours the Europeans have been deeply alarmed by the crisis between the US and Ukraine and, while reminding Kyiv that the Ukrainians are not alone, have nevertheless asked Volodymyr Zelensky to tone down his accusations against the US somewhat.

The Ukrainian president, in his conversations with British broadcasters and newspapers (he was visiting London over the last two days), has denounced the American betrayal of recent days, with the diesel deal struck with Moscow, the demand for an ‘energy truce’ that has been imposed solely on the Ukrainians (who respected it, until yesterday: the Russians did not) and the suspension of intelligence-sharing with the Ukrainians. Zelenskyy rightly said that Trump’s about-turn is measured in Ukrainian deaths and destruction, and that it is a mistake: you do not have much left to lose when you have been abandoned by your main ally, who not only no longer provides funding and weapons, but is now preventing Ukraine from defending itself.

Europeans, however, are urging Zelensky to exercise caution, arguing that Trump’s fury must be reined in somehow and that, on the contrary, the Ukrainian president is fuelling it with his statements. It is a vicious circle of impunity and abandonment, in which the Administration revels, without even feeling the need to explain its decisions. Yesterday, the frontline services provided by Starlink and Starshield (the military package of services offered by Elon Musk’s company, SpaceX, to the Pentagon, which has made it available to Ukraine), which had been restricted for over 24 hours, were restored. Neither the Pentagon nor SpaceX offered any explanation for the disruption. Elon Musk merely wrote on X that Starshield is managed by the US Department of Defence – it is none of his business – and that, in any case, Zelensky must go. Trump also said that the Ukrainian ‘dictator’ has already received far too much aid and that it is time for him to step aside.

At this moment, America—distorted by Trump’s leadership—remains silent on Putin’s ongoing attacks in the Black Sea; it remains silent on the shadow war that Putin continues to wage in Europe, through sabotage, attempted attacks, border incursions and disinformation; remains silent on the brutal decision to leave Ukraine exposed to Russian missiles and drones (the early warning system managed by the Americans was not activated for two consecutive bombardments) and turns a blind eye to the front line even as it is in an offensive phase to recapture territory occupied by the Russians. This is how American silence has become the ultimate affront to the Western alliance.