Fergus Finlay: Europe must stand against the worst appeasement since Munich

Europe, with one voice, must confront Trump. No more pandering, no more 'we agree with you Mr President but', writes Fergus Finlay

US President Donald Trump shakes the hand of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin during a joint press conference in Alaska, last August. ‘This is probably the defining moment of the next ten years. Europe, with one voice, must confront Trump. No more pandering.’

It’s hard to imagine the kind of existential choice that’s facing the people of Ukraine right now. In fact, I’ve been trying to put myself in their shoes. Just imagine, for a second, that you lived in a country that had been invaded and oppressed. Thousands of your people had died or been forced to flee. You’ve endured hunger and disease.

Then out of the blue you’re offered a sort of a peace deal. You send negotiators, who do their best. But they’re told, if you don’t accept this the consequence will be immediate and terrible war. As if what you had been going through wasn’t bad enough.