Expert warns Europe faces ‘tragic future’ over Ukraine stance

A leading British political expert and journalist has delivered a stark warning about Europe’s future following Donald Trump’s recent electoral success and the ongoing Ukraine conflict.

Anatol Lieven, writing in Responsible Statecraft magazine, criticised what he describes as a “dangerous game” involving American-operated missiles, suggesting these actions risk provoking Russia while failing to provide meaningful support to Ukraine.

The expert painted a particularly scathing picture of European political leadership, highlighting what he sees as profound military ignorance among decision-makers. “Many have already completely lost their brains and are running in circles,” Lieven wrote, adding that leaders in Poland and the Baltic states have their “brains firmly fixed, but backwards.”

His assessment comes amid growing attention to Donald Trump’s stance on the Ukraine conflict. The former president has repeatedly claimed he could broker a peace deal within 24 hours and has consistently criticised both the current US approach to the conflict and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The analysis gains significance as it reflects mounting concerns about Europe’s strategic position and understanding of the military situation in Ukraine. Lieven’s critique particularly focuses on what he perceives as a fundamental misalignment between political rhetoric and military reality in European capitals.