Europe is under attack from three sides – but the EU and Nato are unfit to defend us | Nathalie Tocci

The useful part

Ursula von der Leyen's outreach to Canada and new security proposals are wise – but she may not be the right messenger Europe's strategic predicament is ever clearer, and ever darker. The continent is at war, which is being fought militarily in Ukraine, but is escalating rapidly across Europe through hybrid attacks. Whether because Russia is bogged down and unable to advance in Ukraine, or because it believes the US will not come to Europe's rescue, Vladimir Putin's regime is ever more bent on escalating its aggression in Europe.

How it works

• Trump never misses a chance to lash out at Europe – the latest example being his threats of further tariffs on the EU if Brussels proceeds to offer Canada "associate membership".
• Europeans have grown numb to Trump's insults and threats, but these threats do underline his deep antipathy, suggesting that if a Russian attack warranted a response, Trump might look the other way.