Europe at a Crossroads: The Price We Must Pay for Our Freedom

By Tadeáš Krejčí

I remember the early days of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Every morning, the first thing many of us did was check whether Kyiv was still standing.

Despite intelligence reports and official warnings, it still seemed quite unimaginable that those dire predictions would come to pass. It was a new and unsettling kind of anxiety, even for those who were typically level-headed about geopolitics.

Three years later, after periods of wavering attention and evolving crises, that same sense of unease has returned.

Despite the sacrifices of the Ukrainian people and the investments made to hold Russia at bay, these efforts may ultimately prove futile.

With Washington freezing military and financial aid – accounting for nearly 50% of total assistance – the weight of leadership has now squarely shifted to Europe.

Politicians across the continent are scrambling for answers, working to maintain unity while navigating this new political landscape. Even before the pivotal US decision, recent summits in Paris and London sought to consolidate support for Ukraine amid an increasingly unpredictable American stance.

In response to calls from member states, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen then proposed new financing tools for defense spending. The plan envisions an additional 800 billion euros in investment over the next four years, facilitated by relaxed fiscal rules and common debt.

However, it is the question of unity that remains unresolved, both between and within European countries.

Visits by the prime ministers of Slovakia and Hungary to Moscow, coupled with Orbán’s reluctance to back further aid to Ukraine, underscore these divisions.

Moreover, hesitancy from key European powers, including Poland and Germany, toward the Anglo-French peacekeeping plan highlights the difficulty in formulating a cohesive European position.

But perhaps the most crucial factor is the will of the people.

Recent polls across Europe’s traditional powerhouses and other key nations reveal that fewer than 50% of voters support increasing defense spending and providing more aid to Ukraine. In France, that number is just over 30%, even as President Macron positions himself as an advocate for sending troops to enforce a potential peace deal.

If the US is indeed stepping back, Europe has no choice but to step forward and increase its contributions. And even if American material support continues, it is now almost certain now that they will not contribute troops.

This moment is a test of whether Europe can become a strong geopolitical player or remain a fractious alliance incapable of defending itself or Ukraine without American backing.

One thing is clear: security in Europe comes at a cost, and that cost will be steep.

If European leaders fail to communicate this reality to their electorates, they may soon find themselves voted out of office when the full weight of these sacrifices becomes apparent. And then, Ukraine will lose.

Now is the time for resolution.

While we must still continue engaging with the US and the reluctant states in our midst, as Starmer and Macron are doing, European countries must also be prepared to shoulder the burden, even if others do not follow.

And above all, we must be ready to tell our citizens the harsh truths.

Raising defense spending will be painful. Taking over the American role in supporting Ukraine will be painful. Seeing European soldiers put in harm’s way, if a ceasefire is finally reached, will be painful.

But there is no alternative. 

As the European Union, we are said to be “United in Diversity.” But what does this truly represent, and what should it stand for?

It means that we are united in the desire to protect our diversity, our distinct ways of life, and our fellowship of democracies.

The burden we bear will be heavy, but there is no greater price than letting another democracy succumb to tyranny. If we do not stand up for one of our own, we may soon find that the bell tolls for us as well.