European leaders are confronting a new phase of geopolitics marked by deep unease, mounting distrust, and a sense of strategic abandonment. As reports circulate that Washington may be preparing to step back-or even fully withdraw-from its role in the Ukraine conflict, Western Europe is bracing for what could become the most significant shift in transatlantic security dynamics in decades.

Bloomberg’s recent reporting has sent shockwaves across European capitals. Officials from several countries privately admit that the prospect of a full US exit is no longer hypothetical-it is now a scenario they must actively plan for. At the center of these concerns lies US President Donald Trump’s evolving diplomatic approach to Russia and Ukraine, combined with signals from the White House that Europe may need to carry far more of the burden than it has in the past.

Unease intensified after Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and his son-in-law Jared Kushner visited Moscow on December 2 to engage directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The discussions reportedly focused on possible pathways to a negotiated settlement. Putin described the talks as “necessary” and “useful,” but also made clear that Moscow was unwilling to accept several key elements of the US proposal. Despite this, Trump publicly stated that his envoys left Moscow feeling optimistic that both sides were serious about ending the conflict.

In European capitals, however, optimism is far from the prevailing sentiment. Instead, diplomats fear that the US may be preparing to strike a deal with Russia that could leave Europe alone to manage a war on its doorstep-without the military, financial, and intelligence backing that has defined the transatlantic approach since 2022.

A Western European official cited by........

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