It's essential, the US joined late in WW1 and 2, they've signalled they wont be help'ing at all in the next European conflict.NATO's not 'an army', it's a coalition. There's no need for a European army. A 'European Treaty Organisation', maybe. UK France Germany, Norway, Sweden and Poland might well commit to that. That's a well bloodier nose than Ukraine can give (and boy, they have done well); with 2 nuclear powers to counter-bluff the big talk from Vlad. I'm all for moving (slowly) away from US being the 'big boy'.