Something Is Missing From Europe's Ukraine Plan - Ben Hodges - The Global Gambit - Pyotr Kurzin

[TexasTowelie]

Russia’s war in Ukraine has exposed a deeper reality about power, deterrence, and Europe’s uncertain role in shaping the continent’s security future.

In this clip with former US Army Europe commander General Ben Hodges, we examine why Vladimir Putin continues to direct his rhetoric toward Washington—not Kyiv or Brussels—and what that reveals about how he truly views Europe’s influence. Despite growing calls for European strategic autonomy, including proposals from France and the UK to deploy troops or provide stronger security assurances, the central question remains unresolved: what do these guarantees actually mean in practice?

We break down why vague political commitments risk undermining deterrence, how past promises like the Budapest Memorandum failed to protect Ukraine, and why NATO-style guarantees remain politically out of reach. General Hodges explains that credible deterrence requires more than symbolic troop deployments—it requires clearly defined missions, rapid-response authority, and the political will to impose immediate consequences if Russia violates any future ceasefire.

We cover the operational realities behind European troop deployments, the importance of rules of engagement, and why long chains of command risk emboldening rather than deterring Moscow. We also examine Europe’s reluctance to fully disrupt Russia’s oil exports, the role of Ukraine’s growing defense industry, and what a genuine, enforceable security framework would need to look like.

Ultimately, this is not just about Ukraine. It is about whether Europe is prepared to assume real strategic responsibility for its own security—and whether Putin believes it ever will.