Dan Crenshaw: Europeans can increase defense spending or “close” in Ukrainian negotiations
Rep. Dan Crenshaw of R-Texas said Europeans complained that not taking on more negotiations to end the conflict in Ukraine would require increased defense spending or “shut up”.
Crenshaw said in Thursday’s political Game of Thrones podcast that Europeans did not “win a seat” at the negotiating table, otherwise they would not — unless they step up their efforts and put 50,000 soldiers on the borders of Poland to strengthen NATO and Dieter Russia.
“Unless you’re willing to put troops on the ground and add Western leverage … unless you’re willing to do that, shut up.” “Shut up and let Trump do his best.”
The Trump administration is seeking to end the war in Ukraine, and Trump administration officials met with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia on February 18.
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian officials in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on February 18, 2025. (Associated Press)
Several members of NATO have pushed Europe to participate in such discussions. For example, the Associated Press reported that German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on February 13 that Europe must “be on the spot to negotiate, especially “in order of peace” “.
But Crenshaw dismissed such a comment.
“Do you know how many people are afraid of the EU?” Crenshaw said in the podcast. “No. To be scary, to threaten, actually show that you can have some leverage and then maybe you can sit down on the table.”
Crenshaw, who attended the Munich security conference in February, reiterated that some of NATO’s European countries need to strengthen their defense efforts in line with statements such as Trump administration officials such as Defense Secretary Pete Pete Hegseth. “Our partners have to do more for European defense,” Hegseth told NATO members on February 13 in Brussels.
In 2023, the U.S. spent 3.3% of its defense spending — a total of $880 billion, according to the Washington, D.C.-based Peterson Institute for Peterson Institute for International Economics. The institute also found that more than 50% of NATO’s funding comes from the United States, while other allies such as the United Kingdom, France and Germany have contributed 4% to 8% to NATO’s funding in recent years.
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President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Kier Starmer met at the White House on Thursday. (Photo of Getty Image)
Crenshaw also supported British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who met with President Donald Trump on Thursday. Starmer on Tuesday pledged to increase UK defence spending to 2.5% of its domestic value. That’s more than 2.3% of UK spending, equivalent to an increase of nearly $17 billion.
Starmer said he was preparing to send British troops to Ukraine if necessary to ensure peace between Ukraine and Russia, according to a column published in the telegram on February 16.
Crenshaw said the effort has stopped Putin and will stop the Kremlin from endangering the security of the continent.
“That’s what Putin starts to worry about,” Crenshaw said. “He’ll keep coming until Putin is actually afraid of everyone in Europe. That’s what you need to learn.”
Crenshaw did not provide additional comments to Fox News Digital.
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President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Vorodimir Zelenski plan to meet on February 28, 2025 as the Trump administration raises peace talks to end the conflict in Ukraine. (Kay Nietfeld/Picture Alliance/Curtis Statement/Daily Mail/Bloomberg)
The Trump administration is continuing discussions to end the war in Ukraine, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy planning to visit the White House on Friday.
French President Emmanuel Macron visited the White House on Monday and called on the United States to coordinate with France to ensure lasting peace. Nevertheless, he advised the United States to act cautiously when dealing with Russia.
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“We want peace,” he said in an interview with the “Special Report” at Blair House on Monday. “And I think President Trump’s initiative is a very positive initiative. But my message is to be careful because we need something substantial in Ukraine.”
“I think President Trump’s arrival is a game-changer,” he said. “And I think he has the deterrent ability of the United States that re-engages with Russia.”
