GIVE EUROPE credit for stepping up when many doubted it could. Since Donald Trump cut American military aid to Ukraine, Europe has managed to fill the breach(填补空缺，弥补不足). It is accelerating the flow of money and arms eastward, while stiffening sanctions on the Russian aggressor. Partly as a result of European help, Russia’s grim(严峻的，令人沮丧的) losses on the battlefield are putting pressure on Vladimir Putin. With American diplomatic efforts to end the war fizzling, some in Europe are asking whether it is time for them to take the lead and talk to the Russian leader.(随着美国结束战争的外交努力逐渐失效，一些欧洲人开始质疑是否到了由他们主导并与俄罗斯领导人对话的时候。)
要给欧洲点赞，因为它在许多人怀疑其能力时挺身而出。自唐纳德·特朗普切断美国对乌克兰的军事援助以来，欧洲设法填补了空缺。它正向东部加速输送资金和武器，同时加强对俄罗斯侵略者的制裁。部分由于欧洲的帮助，俄罗斯在战场上的惨重损失正在给弗拉基米尔·普京施加压力。随着美国结束战争的外交努力逐渐失效，一些欧洲人开始质疑是否到了由他们主导并与俄罗斯领导人对话的时候。
That time may come, but not yet. The more urgent question for Europe concerns its relationship with a country that has transformed itself from a ward(受监护者，被保护者) of the West into a crucial security partner. Ukraine’s battle-hardened(久经战阵的，实战经验丰富的) army is making progress and its innovative defence industry is growing. If Europe is to defend its borders and wean itself off a reliance on transatlantic(跨大西洋的) help, it needs Ukraine as badly as the other way round(同样强烈地；反过来说也一样). Europe’s priority should be to fully embrace Ukraine, and fast.
那个时刻可能到来，但尚未到来。对欧洲而言，更紧迫的问题是其与一个已从西方受庇护者转变为关键安全伙伴的国家的关系。乌克兰身经百战的军队正在取得进展，其创新的国防工业也在发展。如果欧洲要保卫自己的边界并摆脱对跨大西洋援助的依赖，它同样迫切地需要乌克兰。欧洲的优先事项应是全面接纳乌克兰，且要快。
For Ukraine itself, the goal has long been clear: full EU membership, to cement links(巩固联系) with the West and make up for(弥补，补偿) territory lost to Russia. Four years after accepting Ukraine as a candidate for membership, this month the EU is expected to open the first negotiating “cluster”, covering topics such as democracy and the rule of law. Some in Kyiv hope full membership could follow as soon as next year. In the EU, however, even enthusiasts doubt it can come within a decade. The gulf(巨大分歧，鸿沟) in expectations between the two sides is dangerous.
对乌克兰自身而言，目标长期以来一直明确：成为欧盟正式成员国，以巩固与西方的联系并弥补被俄罗斯占领的领土。在接纳乌克兰为候选成员四年后，本月欧盟预计将开启首个谈判“类别”，涵盖民主和法治等话题。基辅的一些人希望正式成员国资格最快明年就能实现。然而，在欧盟内部，即使是热心支持者也怀疑能否在十年内实现。双方期望的巨大鸿沟是危险的。