The summit in Anchorage, Alaska, should have been a turning point in the war that has been ravaging Ukraine and shaking the international order for over three years. Instead, it turned into a diplomatic catwalk that saw Vladimir Putin get what he most wanted – his own public rehabilitation on the international stage – and Donald Trump consign himself to a walk-on role in his own house, weakening US credibility without getting anything in return.

The image of Putin welcomed with full honours on American soil, while an international warrant still hangs over his head for war crimes, will remain etched as a photograph of political and moral failure. Trump, who likes to present himself as the great negotiator, has thrown the doors wide open to an isolated leader, offering him legitimacy and visibility in a context that would have required firmness and clarity. The red carpet, the military salute, even the side-by-side ride in the presidential limousine were gestures of spectacular welcome, which ended up obscuring the substance.

Substance that, in truth, has not been there. No agreement, no ceasefire, no roadmap for peace. Just general statements, catchphrases and a postponement to future discussions. Putin even took the opportunity to invite Trump to Moscow, reversing roles and imposing his own agenda. The tycoon stammered a ‘we’ll see‘, as if to confirm the absence of a solid strategy, leaving the impression that he was the one chasing the Russian autocrat.

One thing Trump had to do to be effective: put America’s power and determination – combined with that of European allies – on the table, and make it clear that Ukraine would never be abandoned. Putin would have understood that he lacked both the resources and the time to achieve his domination ambitions. But Trump didn’t do that, thinking he could deal with Putin the same way he used to when buying fried chicken chains around America.

For Europe and Ukraine, this summit was a wake-up call. Not only because it showed how fragile and contradictory American policy can be under Trump, but because it made an uncomfortable truth clear: the West can no longer afford to entrust its fate solely to Washington. While Putin gains time and legitimacy, while Trump seeks domestic applause without understanding the global stakes, Europe must become aware of its own condition.

We Europeans remain spectators, oscillating between the hope of an America that will lead again and the fear of a continent that does not yet know how to take upon itself the weight of its own defence and foreign policy. This is where the historic challenge lies: either Europe unites, becomes a strong political entity, builds a strong common defence and a single voice, or it will remain on the sidelines of decisions taken by others – decisions that are often wrong, like those seen in Alaska.

Putin can smile: he has already got what he wanted. Trump, on the other hand, has shown the world that he is not the leader the West needs. It is up to us Europeans to fill this void. There is no more time for hesitation: either we become masters of our own destiny, or we will remain hostages to the will and whims of others for generations.