Trump's Europe feud: Putin gains, Russia warns of war

• Putin is pleased by Trump's intensifying feud with Europe, seeing it as an opportunity for Russia to gain strategic advantage.
• Trump criticized European governments as "weak" and "decaying" and suggested Ukraine's Zelenskyy should "start accepting things" in negotiations.
• The Kremlin welcomed Trump's remarks, stating they align with Russia's views on the Ukraine conflict, NATO, and territorial issues.
• A new US national security strategy also criticized European officials for "unrealistic expectations" regarding the war, further fracturing Western unity.
• Russian officials are using these US statements to undermine European support for Ukraine and question NATO's durability, with some Russian figures issuing stark warnings about "smashing Europe."

Why It Matters: Trump's European criticism helps Russia, fracturing Western unity.