US-EU tensions flare as Trump dismisses European partners on Ukraine peace plan while Musk launches broadside against Brussels.
US-EU Tensions Over Peace Plan
In November 2025, a 28-point Russian-American peace plan leaked to media, sparking European outrage and anger. Leaders of the E3 group (Germany, France, UK) met with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy in London. US President Trump publicly dismissed European partners, stating they had nothing to offer and weren’t worth talking to. Despite Trump’s aggressive tone, a phone call in early December led both sides to agree to continue negotiations. Shortly after, Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, traveled to Berlin to jointly negotiate a new 20-point peace plan with Europeans.
Musk’s Offensive Against the EU
Simultaneously, Elon Musk launched a communication offensive against the European Union on platform X. Musk compared the EU to the “Fourth Reich,” called for its dissolution, and ultimately blocked the European Commission’s advertising account. This action followed a €140 million fine imposed by Brussels on X for violating the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA). Musk has not paid the fine, and the Commission threatens further sanctions of up to 6% of X’s turnover (approx. €200 million). In January, EU officials launched an investigation into Grok, an AI tool on X, primarily for lacking adequate oversight enabling users to generate sexual images, including “naked” photos of women and children.
While losing the EU market wouldn’t destroy X, it’s hard to ignore that the region accounts for approximately 25% of the platform’s revenue.
