All bullies rely on people just rolling over and giving up without a fight. Until they can find enough people to fight their fights for themselves. And Trump is a bully. Europe must not give in. Not to Trump and certainly not to Putin.
The issue is that both Trump and Putin heavily support fascist parties in European countries. Just today Musk endorsed Germany‘s far right / nazi party again.
What will unfortunately probably happen is that European leaders will not give into the US‘s demands initially, prices rise due to trade wars and some goods possibly become inaccessible.
The lower standards of living fuel dissent and fascists get elected in EU countries who cut deals that might relieve the situation temporarily but will almost certainly enrich the fascists themselves, weaken the EU and weaken democratic values.
Luckily the EU isn’t just a single country with a central government that’s easily swayed. Hell, they usually don’t easily agree on anything. But this is something they’ll gladly shoulder together.
Sure, Donnie, sure.
My opinion as an American is that Trump is doing this to apease Putin. By making American fossil fuels less attractive it might push EU back to Russian sources. Just my guess though. I would still hope the EU stands firm and tells both Trump and Putin to F off.
The EU is not going to do you any favours Donny