US Historian Timothy Snyder believes that the era of shared interests and values between the US and Europe has come to a definitive end, following the controversial speech of US Vice President JD Vance at the Munich Security Conference. “That was the speech of an imperialist, who wants to erode the rule of law in Germany and the entire EU” Snyder told the “Stern”.
Germany is now the “most important democracy in the world”, which should be aware of its influence and responsibility towards Ukraine and European security. Nobody knows for sure whether an agreement between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin would hold. “Trump and Putin are like two snakes that have entwined themselves. A fascinating spectacle. One watches them with bated breath and doesn’t quite know: Are they fighting or caressing each other?”
Whatever the two statesmen agreed on, could have terrible consequences, according to Snyder. “Trump will lose interest as soon as a ceasefire is in place. A ceasefire is enough for a Nobel Peace Prize, he believes. Putin would be happy about that. He wants the Americans and Europeans to start looking away and the Ukrainians to demobilize their army. So that he can attack again in nine or twelve months. Only Europe can prevent that.