Well, well, well—this is a pleasant surprise. A European leader—a British ambassador, no less—finally saying what conservatives in America have been screaming for years: Europe needs to step up, stop freeloading off the United States, and actually take responsibility for its own security. I don’t know if the Brits have been sipping a different brand of tea lately, but whatever it is, keep it coming.
Lord Peter Mandelson, the UK’s ambassador to the U.S., went on ABC’s This Week and basically admitted what Trump has been saying since 2016: Europe needs a “radical reset” to match Trump’s vision for a more balanced global order. Translation? The U.S. is done being the world’s piggy bank and Europe had better start pulling its weight.
“My response is that we need a very radical reset,” Mandelson said. “And the reset has to consist of the United States and Ukraine getting back on the same page, and President Zelenskyy giving his unequivocal backing to the initiative that President Trump is taking to end the war and to bring a just and lasting peace to Ukraine.”
Now, let’s take a second to appreciate how wild this moment really is. A European official—the same breed that usually spends its time lecturing Americans about “global responsibilities” while happily letting the U.S. foot the bill for NATO and every foreign conflict—just said that Ukraine and Europe need to fall in line with Trump’s approach to ending the war. Not Biden’s approach. Trump’s. In other words, the grown-ups are back in charge, and even Europe is starting to get the memo.
Mandelson laid it out pretty clearly: first, Ukraine needs to back Trump’s initiative for peace. No more stalling, no more empty posturing, no more treating U.S. support like an entitlement. And second, Europe needs to stop standing on the sidelines and actually do something to ensure security for Ukraine. In fact, Mandelson even floated the idea of European forces on the ground to provide deterrence. Imagine that—Europe, actually defending its own backyard. Miracles do happen.
“And the Europeans, too, they need to back the cause for a ceasefire,” he continued. “And by the way, I think that Ukraine should be the first to commit to a ceasefire and defy the Russians to follow. And then as part of the unfolding plan for this negotiation, the Europeans, and perhaps some other countries, too, have got to consider how they are going to put forces on the ground to play their part in providing enduring security and deterrence for Ukraine.”
But here’s the real kicker: Mandelson also suggested that Ukraine should sign on to the economic and commercial deal Trump put forward. Why? Because—brace yourself for this one—having U.S. commercial interests in Ukraine would actually incentivize America to protect it in the future. Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t that basically an admission that Biden’s “let’s just throw billions of taxpayer dollars into the void” strategy wasn’t actually working? Because under Biden, Ukraine got plenty of American money, but not a real commitment to its long-term stability. Meanwhile, under Trump, the focus is on making sure America has actual skin in the game—not just an open checkbook.
“And, yes, I do think it would be a good idea if he signed the economic and commercial deal put forward by the United States,” Mandelson said. “And the reason I say that is quite apart from the economic gain that Ukraine will derive from that. It will also give the United States a stake in Ukraine’s future. It will mean that U.S. commercial interest, U.S. individual citizens will be on the ground there and that will be an even greater, added incentive for the U.S. to protect the Ukraine in future, make sure that war does not ensue again. That’s what I want to see. That’s what we all want to see.”
This is exactly why Trump’s foreign policy works. He doesn’t believe in endless handouts. He believes in leverage, in negotiation, in making sure America gets something in return for its involvement. And now, a European official is acknowledging that Trump’s way—strength, pressure, and actual strategy—is the only path to real peace.
British Ambassador to the U.S. Lord Peter Mandelson: President Zelenskyy needs to give “his unequivocal backing to the initiative that President Trump is taking to END the war and to bring a just and lasting PEACE.” pic.twitter.com/ZWLasg6tNc
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 2, 2025
Of course, this all raises a question: if even the Brits are starting to recognize reality, how long before the rest of Europe catches up? Because for years, European leaders have been more than happy to let America clean up their messes, all while smugly criticizing any U.S. president who dared to suggest they contribute more than just words. But now, with Trump back, the winds seem to be shifting.
Don’t be gaslit. Zelensky broke protocol and decided to debate VP Vance on President Trump’s diplomatic worldview. That’s how this started.
He was out of line and disrespectful. Trump and Vance did exactly what needed to be done. Bravo indeed!
NewsNight on @CNN pic.twitter.com/iF2XsDdq83
— Melik Abdul (@MelikAbdul_) March 1, 2025
So, credit where credit is due—Mandelson actually told the truth. Europe needs to get serious. Ukraine needs to work with Trump, not against him. And the days of the U.S. being everyone’s security blanket without getting anything in return? Those days are over. And it’s about time.
