Europe is not a global force. It is a polyglot of tiny countries plus three larger but mostly neutered by countries. The larger ones are neutered by socialism which encourages the people to sit on their butts and ask for someone else to solve their problems. The British, French and Germans make all the right blustery noises, but in the end, they want the US to stand in front of them. Very far in front.
Agreed. The laughable Starmer stance of a "coalition of the willing" which would so happily REQUIRE that "backstop" from us is a case in point.
If the Europeans actually believed they could win a land war in Eastern Ukraine against Russia, they would have marched their uniformed troops in to fight as an alliance with the corrupt Zelensky regime. And -- they haven't.
As you say, "but in the end, they want the US to stand in front of them. Very far in front."