Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been working overtime at the Davos World Economic Forum, drumming up international support and pitching his vision for a peacekeeping force in Ukraine. While he’s courting European leaders with sweet talk about multinational deployments, it’s clear he’s aiming to curry favor with President Donald Trump. But let’s not mince words: Zelensky’s insistence that European peacekeeping efforts won’t work without American boots on the ground reeks of desperation and entitlement.
Zelensky reportedly “bristled” at the idea of the United States sitting out on this one, telling Bloomberg, “It can’t be without the United States… Nobody will risk without the United States.” And there it is—the real game plan: guilt-trip America into doing Europe’s dirty work yet again. Never mind that President Trump has made it abundantly clear that America First means no more endless wars and certainly no more acting as the global police force for leaders who barely pull their weight in NATO.
The idea of European peacekeepers in Ukraine, particularly under the initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron, has been floated for months. Macron envisions forward-deploying NATO troops to Ukraine’s front lines after a ceasefire, claiming it would prevent Russia from regrouping and re-arming for another attack. British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has already pledged Britain’s “full part” in such an effort. But let’s get real: Europe’s militaries are in no shape to handle a 100,000-troop operation. Retired British Army officers are practically laughing at the idea, noting that the UK’s military is stretched thinner than the Royal Navy’s presence in the Black Sea.
Zelensky’s optimism doesn’t stop with Europe. He’s now pinning hopes on China—yes, China—to pressure Russia into peace. He seems to think Beijing can strong-arm Putin, while simultaneously praising Trump as “the strongest.” It’s a bizarre dance of diplomacy, but let’s be clear: trusting Xi Jinping to broker peace is like asking a fox to guard the henhouse. China has zero incentive to upset its cozy relationship with Russia, especially when it benefits from Western weakness.
Western Troops in Ukraine to ‘Force Russia Into Peace’, Says Zelensky at Ramstein Summit https://t.co/gyNFDUWeUU
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) January 9, 2025
The hard truth is this: Europe wants to play the hero in Ukraine but doesn’t have the muscle to back it up, and Zelensky knows it. That’s why he’s begging for U.S. involvement. But President Trump’s administration has made it clear—NATO allies must pull their weight. Trump’s special envoy Richard Grenell put it bluntly: “You cannot ask the American people to expand the umbrella of NATO when the current members aren’t paying their fair share.” Trump has already warned Moscow with the threat of stiff sanctions and tariffs if peace talks don’t happen, proving once again that diplomacy doesn’t require putting American lives at risk.
The European obsession with deploying peacekeepers without the military strength to back it up is more virtue signaling than practical strategy. Zelensky’s pleas for help should focus on getting Europe to finally step up. And as for the United States? President Trump has rightly prioritized American strength, diplomacy, and accountability over endless commitments to conflicts where others won’t do their part. America First isn’t just a slogan; it’s common sense. Let Europe handle its backyard for once.