Europe's economic response to U.S. tariffs may harm Ukraine — diplomat

Diplomat Oleksandr Matsuka, head of the UN Security Council secretariat (2009–2016), stated this on Espreso TV.

"Europeans understand that they won't be able to fight for Greenland - it would be a catastrophe. Europe will not fight against the U.S., and if the U.S. suddenly decides to seize the island and lands forces there, it will somehow resemble the situation with Crimea in 2014. That is, there will be no military resistance, because Europe won't be able to defend Greenland. And I'm even afraid to imagine how this could end," Matsuka emphasized.

According to the diplomat, Europeans are currently discussing an economic response to the tariffs that Trump is threatening: they may halt trade relations with the United States.

"I don't know how effective this will be, but it could hurt Ukraine, because if Europeans stop purchasing American goods, this could also affect American weapons. I think that Trump will primarily blackmail the Europeans: if you don't agree, then I'll impose tariffs and won't sell you weapons for Ukraine.

The U.S. has stopped playing geopolitics; they've started playing Trump's ego-politics, where Trump may be guided by his personal interests. And this, unfortunately, is the reality we live in," Matsuka concluded.

• Ahead of the World Economic Forum in Davos, the EU was preparing for dialogue with U.S. President Donald Trump on the topic of Ukraine and security guarantees. Now European leaders are shifting their focus and preparing for discussions regarding Greenland.