President Trump has only been in office for merely six weeks, but it already feels like it's been years! He has certainly hit the ground running when it comes to his signature way of making the news, and if there is one thing that defines his style, is pushing the envelope, and then pushing it some more.

This time, however, he has pushed beyond pulling off some sort of antics meant to get him noticed. This time, the world couldn't believe its collective eyes.

I am of course referring to the train wreck of a meeting that took place in the last days between him and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whom he met in the oval office, in front of the world's media. What started off as a normal meeting quickly turned sour as the leader of the free world, aided by his deputy, engaged in an embarrassing attack on the Ukrainian President, in an unprecedented display of appalling behaviour.

It made for some very uncomfortable watching. The US President and Vance spoke down to Zelenskyy, and accused him of flirting with World War Three. Later on in the aftermath, the United States went ahead and doubled down on its hostility towards the embattled country, suspending its intelligence collaboration in the middle of a long-drawn war.

It is quite unbelievable that what used to be the bright shining light of the west has now become a threat to freedom itself. Sure, America has always had its own issues, but this is now completely different. While till now we always had a strong notion of what is right and what is wrong, today everything is up for debate it seems, and all actions appear to have become relative.

I don't believe all actions are relative, and I believe that what was right before remains right now, and what was wrong before will remain wrong.

Like for example, I continue to believe in the sovereign right of a country to exist, and that no dictator, no matter how powerful they are and how heavily armed they are, can ever have the right to invade or make another country their own.

I am especially saddened by people who ought to know better, who express their admiration and support for Trump and Putin and their style of politics. The mental gymnastics needed to arrive to such conclusions is quite remarkable, yet they manage to make it work.

We have turned our backs on that kind of politics and closed that chapter once and for all, a long time ago. We cannot afford to allow it to sneak back in.

That is why I believe that Europe needs to come together like never before, and withstand the threat to everything we believe in, and hold dear. Together, we have built a political bloc that is inspired by respect, collaboration and most importantly freedom.

We know all too well that bullies need to be stood up to and not pandered to or even appeased.

Freedom is not guaranteed. We know that our values need to be defended and nurtured, and perhaps it is now time to put our money where our mouth is.

Alexander Mangion is Deputy Mayor of Attard