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Is a Ukraine peace deal another excuse for a European army? Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a good visit at the White House. He put on a “suit-style jacket” and said thank you—a lot. He and the European leaders who accompanied him were rewarded with a warm welcome from President Trump.

The negotiations left the door open for a meeting between presidents Trump, Putin and Zelenskyy. It could pave the way for a peace treaty where both sides give up some territory, adjusting the current front lines to create a more defensible border.

Ukraine also talked about spending $100 billion buying American weapons and $50 billion in a joint venture to produce drones.

But the big focus was on security guarantees. President Trump left the door open for American boots on the ground. He promised to give Ukraine “very good protection, very good security.” He didn’t rule out an American military presence, but he did say, “There’ll be a lot of help when it comes to security. It’s going to be good. They [Europe] are first line of defense because they’re there, but we’re going to help them out also. We’ll be involved when it comes.”

Boots in Ukraine would give Europe another reason to rearm. The front line between Russia and Ukraine is 750 miles long—not including Ukraine’s border with Russian puppet Belarus. In an interview in February, Zelenskyy said a credible European security guarantee would require 100,000 to 150,000 troops. That’s twice the current size of the entire German Army.

Zelenskyy is right—if the goal is to have an army capable of defending Ukraine’s border. A “trip wire” force is more likely—several thousand troops set up so that any Russian invasion of Ukraine would also spill European blood, an attempt to guarantee European involvement.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine prompted a massive military expansion across Europe. Now, remarkably, a peace deal could do the same.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul quickly announced that Germany probably wouldn’t send any troops. Chancellor Friedrich Merz then stepped in, saying it was “too early to give a definitive answer” on the subject.

It reflects Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry’s long-standing view that Germany and Russia have probably already done a deal, with Germany agreeing not to oppose a Russian takeover of Ukraine. Germany has consistently slowed Europe’s support for Ukraine and promised more aid than it actually delivers. But Wadephul’s quick denial doesn’t exactly scream leadership—so Merz played for time.

But Germany knows that no deal with Russia can last. Germany must take advantage of any time a Russian-deal buys it to get prepared to confront Russia once that breaks down.

Europe is rapidly expanding its capacity to deploy and maintain thousands of troops beyond its borders. It is molding a Ukrainian peace deal that gives it yet another reason to do so. This year, Germany’s military spending is on track to be double what it was 10 years ago—and rising fast. “Germany Is Arming for World War III” is the cover article for our latest issue of the Trumpet magazine. “Germany is indeed ‘reinventing the nature of warfare,’” wrote Mr. Flurry. “And Bible prophecy reveals it will suddenly start World War iii! … Right now, we are witnessing Germany begin its final preparations to start this war!” Watch for those preparations to accelerate.

Serbian protests reached new heights last night. The unrest began in November after a poorly made roof collapsed, killing 14 people. Government corruption was blamed, and the demonstrations have morphed into an effort to oust President Aleksandar Vučić.

“Serbia’s streets are beginning to resemble a state of war, with the offices of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (sns) vandalized,” wrote Deutsche Welle. “Clashes between demonstrators and police with batons, tear gas, smoke bombs and flares repeat night after night across the country.”

Videos seem to show sns supporters and even paramilitary groups attacking protesters, while President Vučić has accused outside forces of backing the protest groups.

Trouble is also stirring in the Serbian region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bosnia’s courts declared the rule of Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik illegitimate and banned him from holding office. Dodik has refused to step down and instead organized a referendum in Republika Srpska over his rule.

Germany and Russia especially have interests in the region. German diplomatic maneuvers helped break up Yugoslavia in the first place, and it maintains heavy influence throughout the Balkan states of Croatia and Kosovo. Bosnia’s high representative (a foreign-appointed executive head), Christian Schmidt, was a member of former German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cabinet. Russia, meanwhile, funds paramilitary activity in Republika Srpska and has close relations with Serbia. Controlling the Balkans gives Germany influence over the Adriatic Sea and the land bridge to Asia. Russia sees it as an almost religious mission to protect Orthodox Christians in the area, which gives it a lever to use against Europe. The fact that Russia could easily stir up major trouble for Germany here is probably a major factor keeping Germany from disputing Ukraine.

Keep watching this explosive region. For more, read Mr. Flurry’s booklet Germany’s Conquest of the Balkans.

IN OTHER NEWS

Harjinder Singh pulled an illegal U-turn on a Florida freeway, killing three people when their minivan slammed into the truck. Singh came to the U.S. illegally and avoided deportation by claiming he was afraid to go home. California then gave him a commercial driver’s license. The story has gained notoriety online. It is a painful demonstration of how supposedly merciful sanctuary policies do great harm.

The number of mothers with young children who are staying at home, instead of going out to work, has risen slightly—and the Washington Post is not happy about it. It complained last week, “Mothers Are Leaving the Workforce, Erasing Pandemic Gains.” Mr. Flurry writes, “Some women are bored and perhaps even hostile toward the notion of being a housewife and mother.” But being a wife and mother is “the greatest career God has to offer.” Read “Motherhood: The Untold Story.”