The unity shown by the West in the Ukraine crisis is not as self-evident as it appears.
In times when the pressure from Moscow is not so great, Europeans often diverge when it comes to dealing with Putin.
Above all, there has recently been a pro-Russian tendency in sections of the Republican Party in the United States.
It goes back to Trump and is further fueled by the former President.
That's a significant change, because Republicans were once staunch transatlanticists.
This is not good news for Europe in the medium term.
Should Trump or one of his imitators become president in 2024, then the motto in the next crisis could be: What is it to us if Russia gets in a fight with a neighbor somewhere in Eastern Europe?
Years ago, a US Secretary of Defense warned that the US would not be ready to defend Europe forever.
Trump openly questioned NATO during his tenure.
Since there is a consensus in Washington that the real problem is China, it has not even been said that the Democrats will be willing to make large investments in Europe's security in the long term.
The implication for Europe is that it must finally become strong enough of its own to deter someone like Putin.