A Trump-Putin pact is emerging – and Europe is its target | Rafael Behr

US betrayal of Ukraine is the rehearsal for a grander bargain with Moscow and an assault on continental solidarity

A prime time current affairs programme; a discussion about Donald Trump's handling of the war in Ukraine. He's doing excellent things," says a firebrand politician on the panel, before listing White House actions that have belittled Volodymyr Zelenskyy and weakened his battlefield position - military aid suspended; satellite communications obstructed; intelligence withheld. Do we support this?" It is a rhetorical question.

We support it all. Absolutely," the celebrity host responds. We are thrilled by everything Trump is doing."

Rafael Behr is a Guardian columnist