Europe entered the summer with the prospect of a potential trans-Atlantic divorce, the future of Ukraine, NATO, and trade all up in the air. With their beach holidays beckoning, European leaders can now take a sigh of relief.

European security cannot only be built from the top down. It starts with people—citizens who are aware, engaged, and prepared. Civil buy-in and resilience are not secondary or symbolic; they are foundational to modern security.

The 9^th of May marked the European Union’s official ‘Europe day’. This celebration of ‘peace and unity in Europe’ stands in stark contrast with the world beyond.

With US president Trump living up to his campaign promise to quickly end the war in Ukraine through what Ukraine and Europe fear would be a Russian peace without their involvement, Europe collectively faces its 21st century Suez moment.

‘We all know what we have to do, but we don’t know how to get re-elected once we’ve done it.’ Thus spoke Jean-Claude Juncker as then President of the Eurogroup back in 2007.

A sense of defeatism hangs over the war in Ukraine. The Russian invasion is creeping forward and the frontline is showing cracks. President Putin is becoming more reckless in his attacks on civilians and cities.