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Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, stated that Europeans complaining about not carrying extra weight in negotiations to finish the battle in Ukraine must both step up their protection spending or “shut up.”Â
Crenshaw stated in Politico’s “Energy Play” podcast on Thursday that Europeans haven’t “earned a seat” on the negotiating desk and received’t — until they step up and place 50,000 troops on the border of Poland to bolster NATO and deter Russia.Â
“Until you’re keen to place troops on the bottom and enhance the leverage for the West … until you’re keen to try this, shut up,” Crenshaw stated. “Shut up, and let Trump do the most effective he can.”
The Trump administration is in search of to finish the struggle in Ukraine, and Trump administration officers met with Russian officers in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 18. U.S. Particular Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg and Ukrainian officers met in Kyiv Feb. 19.Â
TRUMP AND ZELENSKYY WAR OF WORDS HEATS UP EVEN AS US LOOKS TO WIND DOWN WAR IN UKRAINE

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Nationwide Safety Advisor Mike Waltz and Center East envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian officers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 18, 2025. (Related Press)
A number of NATO members have pushed for European involvement in such discussions. For instance, The Related Press experiences that German Protection Minister Boris Pistorius stated on Feb. 13 that Europe “should” be current for negotiations, particularly whether it is “speculated to play a central or the primary function within the peace order.”
However Crenshaw dismissed such feedback.Â
“You understand how many individuals are terrified of the European Union?” Crenshaw stated within the podcast. “None. Be scary, be threatening, truly present you could have some leverage, after which possibly you may have a seat on the desk.”
Crenshaw, who attended the Munich Safety Convention in February, reiterated that European international locations which can be a part of NATO must beef up protection efforts, aligning with statements from Trump administration officers like Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth. Hegseth informed NATO members in Brussels on Feb. 13 that “our companions should do much more for Europe’s protection.”
In 2023, the U.S. spent 3.3% of its GDP on protection spending — totaling $880 billion, in line with the nonpartisan Washington, D.C.-based Peterson Institute for Worldwide Economics. The institute additionally discovered that greater than 50% of NATO funding comes from the U.S., whereas different allies, like the UK, France and Germany, have contributed between 4% and eight% to NATO funding lately.
RUSSIA, UKRAINE TAKE ‘SIGNIFICANT FIRST STEP TOWARD PEACE’ AFTER RUBIO-LED NEGOTIATIONS, WHITE HOUSE INSISTS
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President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer met on the White Home on Thursday. (Photographs by Getty Pictures)
Crenshaw additionally issued assist for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who met with President Donald Trump on Thursday. Starmer pledged on Tuesday to spice up UK protection spending to 2.5% of its gross home worth. That’s up from the two.3% the UK presently spends, and it equates to a virtually $17 billion enhance.Â
Starmer stated he’s ready to ship British troops to Ukraine if vital to make sure peace between Ukraine and Russia, in line with an op-ed printed in The Telegraph on Feb. 16.Â
Such efforts are what deters Putin and can stop the Kremlin from jeopardizing security on the European continent, in line with Crenshaw.Â
“That’s what begins to fret Putin,” Crenshaw stated. “And till Putin is definitely terrified of y’all in Europe, he’s going to maintain coming. And that’s what you want to be taught.”
Crenshaw didn’t present further remark to Fox Information Digital.Â
‘MAKE NATO GREAT AGAIN’: HEGSETH PUSHES EUROPEAN ALLIES TO STEP UP DEFENSE EFFORTSÂ
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President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are scheduled to satisfy on Feb. 28, 2025, because the Trump administration advances peace negotiations to finish battle in Ukraine. (Kay Nietfeld/image alliance/Curtis Means/Day by day Mail/Bloomberg)
The Trump administration is constant to advance discussions to finish the struggle in Ukraine, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to go to the White Home on Friday.Â
French President Emmanuel Macron visited the White Home Monday and referred to as for the U.S. to coordinate with France to safe lasting peace. Nonetheless, he suggested the U.S. to train warning when coping with Russia.Â
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“We would like peace,” he stated in an interview from Blair Home Monday on “Particular Report.” “And I believe the initiative of President Trump is a really constructive one. However my message was to say watch out, as a result of we want one thing substantial for Ukraine.”Â
“I believe the arrival of President Trump is a game-changer,” he stated. “And I believe he has the deterrence capability of the U.S. to re-engage with Russia.”