Europe Needs to Get "Uncomfortably Aggressive" to Counter Russia, Says Crenshaw
Texas Republican Congressman Dan Crenshaw believes European leaders need to adopt a more assertive stance towards Russian President Vladimir Putin in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine. He argues that a "much stronger message" is necessary to achieve a favorable outcome for Ukraine in the peace talks and eventual agreement to end the war.
Crenshaw, who recently met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Munich Security Conference, emphasizes the importance of security assurances for a lasting peace. He believes that Europe must play a significant role in this process, not only by increasing defense spending but also by committing troops on the ground.
"Stop following our lead and actually take the lead," Crenshaw urges European leaders. "Let us be actually holding you back. That would be an ideal situation, and vastly change the power dynamic when dealing with Putin."
He believes that Europe needs to "earn" a seat at the negotiating table by demonstrating a more forceful approach. "We listen to Zelenskyy," he says. "And I want to listen to other European leaders as well, but I want them to be uncomfortably aggressive, because that gives us more leverage in order to help Ukraine come out with a better outcome."
Crenshaw's comments come amidst criticism of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's recent remarks suggesting that Ukraine's aspirations for NATO membership and pre-2014 borders might be unrealistic. While Hegseth later clarified his stance, Crenshaw believes that the White House is sending mixed messages on Ukraine.
However, Crenshaw defends the White House's approach to the potential peace talks, emphasizing that "everything is on the table" and that "there's a path forward here." He acknowledges that Putin has not yet committed to negotiations, reiterating his call for European leaders to adopt a more assertive stance against the Russian leader who, according to Crenshaw, "only responds to power.