Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has urged Europe to take control of its own security as the United States changes its position on the Ukraine war. Speaking at a business conference in Thessaloniki, he warned that Europe must act fast and stop depending too much on the U.S. for defense.

His comments came after former U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, calling him a “dictator,” and suggested that Ukraine had provoked the war with Russia.

Trump also warned that Ukraine must make peace quickly or risk losing the war. These remarks have caused concern among European leaders.

The situation became even more complicated when the U.S. and Russia held peace talks in Saudi Arabia without Ukraine.

This move surprised both Ukraine and its European allies. Ukraine has strongly opposed any peace deal made without its approval, while Russia refuses to give back the land it has captured.

Mitsotakis stressed that Europe must “wake up” and stop ignoring the reality of global politics. He said it is time for Europe to act quickly and make decisions that have been discussed for years.

He believes Europe should build its own defense system so that it does not have to rely so much on the U.S. for military support.

His speech followed a virtual meeting organized by France, where European leaders and Canada discussed the Ukraine crisis. For many years, Europe has depended on U.S. military power through NATO, but Trump has repeatedly pushed European countries to spend more on their own defense.

Experts warn that if the U.S. reduces its military help, Europe might struggle to meet its security needs.

Mitsotakis’ warning is a call for Europe to strengthen its military capabilities and take more responsibility for its own safety. As global politics shift, European leaders may need to rethink their defense strategies to ensure long-term security.