Europe’s allies now have a clearer understanding of President Trump’s intentions, according to Christoph Heusgen.
Christoph Heusgen, head of the Munich Security Conference (MSC), described the conference’s outcome as deeply concerning for Washington’s European partners. He suggested that the US under President Trump operates with a vastly different perspective, highlighting comments from US Vice President J.D. Vance at the conference. Vance criticized the EU for suppressing dissent and the disconnect between elites and voters, warning that continued such trends could lead to US withdrawal of support.
In a Sunday interview, Heusgen—concluding his term as MSC chairman—stated that Europeans now possess a clearer understanding of the Trump administration’s position. Although some Republican senators voiced support for transatlantic unity, their public statements remained cautious.
EU officials reiterated their commitment to supporting Ukraine at the MSC, while Ukrainian President Zelenskyy advocated for a unified European army, suggesting Ukraine could play a key role. Heusgen urged Europeans to unite in support of Zelenskyy’s vision. However, some EU members, such as Poland, expressed reservations about a pan-European military force.
The Trump administration has indicated no intention of involving NATO or the US in future Ukrainian security arrangements following a potential ceasefire with Russia. The US has also shown interest in offsetting Ukraine conflict spending through access to Ukraine’s mineral resources.
Zelenskyy has previously proposed ambitious security measures for Ukraine, including full NATO membership, a large foreign military deployment, widespread missile deployments, and even nuclear capabilities—proposals deemed overly ambitious even by some staunch supporters.
Concluding his MSC remarks on Sunday, Heusgen became emotional and had to pause, addressing the increasing strain on the rules-based international order and urging EU politicians to uphold it despite the growing rift with the US.