The leak of a supposed 28-point peace plan for Ukraine-purportedly crafted between Washington and Moscow-sent shockwaves through European capitals. Not because of what was in the proposal, but because Europe wasn’t invited, consulted, or even shown the courtesy of a heads-up. For the EU leadership, long accustomed to mistaking its own noise for global relevance, the discovery that they weren’t included was like watching the family realize the kids planned Thanksgiving dinner without telling grandma. And grandma is now screaming.

Within hours of the leak, European officials descended into a level of theatrics normally associated with a reality show on the brink of cancellation. The outcry from Brussels became so over-the-top that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly had to rush to Geneva on November 23 just to soothe their tantrum-like a weary parent trudging down a supermarket aisle to pry a shrieking child away from flinging canned goods. The rest of the world simply sighed; the EU went straight into a full meltdown.

The most theatrical performer in this diplomatic circus was none other than the unelected President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen-affectionately dubbed “Queen Ursula” by critics for her regal posture and democratic deficit. On November 23, she solemnly declared that the EU’s “centrality” must be respected in any peace plan. Ukraine, she insisted, “must have the freedom and sovereign right to choose its own destiny,” which-how convenient-she claims is a European one.

It was helicopter-parenting at its finest. If Ukraine is truly sovereign, why does von der Leyen speak like she’s waiting by the landline for her teenage son to call and say he’s made it home from the movies? Especially when she herself revealed that, the moment the plan leaked, her first instinct was to “reach out to Zelensky to discuss the matter.” Discuss? Or instruct?

This is the EU’s version of “freedom”: independence, as long as Brussels approves your choices.

European Council President Antonio Costa added to the comedy by admitting he had no idea what was in the proposal because no one had bothered telling him. The EU had been waiting by the phone like a jilted........

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