Yet even the best leadership cannot create unity where fundamental conflicts of interest prevent it. Therefore, unity must not be an end in itself if it comes at the cost of a diluted or entirely unclear position. Where possible, the alternatives are informal alliances or “coalitions of the willing.” In foreign and security policy in general, in Ukraine and Russia policy in particular, and also in trade policy, the message from the discussion was that informal coalitions of interest should form—capable of acting decisively and effectively.

An example of this emerged recently during the visit of European heads of state and government, together with Ukrainian President Zelensky, to the White House. From this meeting, a coalition could take shape that is prepared to guarantee Ukraine’s security after the end of the war. This path is the right one, because perhaps the most important insight of the GLOBSEC side session was this: an informal European alliance that acts decisively can be stronger than an ostensibly united but paralyzed Europe.