European countries continue to declare their strong support for Ukraine, but they do not have their own strategy for cessation of war without additional economic pressure on Russia from the US. This is a problem because US President Donald Trump's position on the war in Ukraine is volatile, writes The New York Times.

Europe does not know how to protect Ukraine without the US

It is noted that European officials believe that the reliability of the security guarantees that Ukraine will receive as a result of peace negotiations is very important. They are confident that reliable security guarantees will be the best incentive for Kyiv to agree to cede part of its territory to Russia.

European officials told reporters that the United States has so far refused to make any concrete promises to defend Ukraine or support European forces. Meanwhile, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin continues to reject the presence of NATO troops in Ukraine even after the war is resolved, making European plans all but impossible.

In addition, Europe hopes to force Trump to reduce pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky by proposing a meeting between Ukraine, Europe and the United States to develop a joint peace proposal, which will later be presented to Moscow. Moreover, the Ukrainian leader previously told reporters that Ukraine will probably send its peace plan to the United States as early as December 10.

Europe must prepare to wage war on its own

Meanwhile, senior NATO officials are closely watching the Trump administration's troop withdrawal from Europe, the paper added. About 79,000 American troops remain in the region, but officials acknowledge that the Europeans cannot easily replace key U.S. military capabilities, such as satellite intelligence, air defense, long-range missiles and guidance systems.

Europe should also prepare to wage war on its own, as support from the United States is in question, a European official told reporters.

"Ukraine is Europe's line of defense against Russia, but we don't fully understand what that means and what it will cost. Russian assets are absolutely necessary for Ukraine to continue the fight and change Russia's calculations. We have to take a higher risk or pay a higher price later," Anna Wieslander, director for Northern Europe at the Atlantic Council, told reporters.

How long could Britain fight if war broke out with Russia?

The BBC previously estimated that How long would Britain last? in a possible war against Russia. Journalists noted that it is highly unlikely that the United Kingdom would ever find itself at war with Russia alone, without the support of NATO allies.

The publication shared that such a war could begin with a communications shutdown, after which it may become impossible to make bank payments for such essential items as food and fuel.

The publication is confident that in the event of war, these covert, unnoticeable actions, combined with the almost inevitable attempt to"blind" Western satellites in space, would seriously limit the UK's combat capabilities, and could also cause significant harm to civil society.

A report by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy said Russia was producing about 150 tanks, 550 infantry fighting vehicles, 120 Lancet drones and more than 50 artillery pieces every month. The publication noted that the UK and most of its Western allies simply would not come close to this level. At the same time, analysts believe that it will take several years for Western European factories to approach the level of mass production of weapons in Russia.