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European leaders gathered about Volodymyr Zelenskyy after his spectacular Oval office clashed with Donald Trump, but the rift between Kyiv and Washington leaves Europe with agonizing choices on how to support Ukraine.
Friday’s showdown, where the US president accused the Ukrainian leader of “gambling” with a Third World War, caused plot in European capitals and deteriorated the fear of an irreparable transatlantic violation.
Kaja Kallas, the EU leading diplomat and a staunch supporter of Ukraine, was probably the most pronounced in its appreciation.
“Today, it became clear that the free world needs a new leader. It depends on us, Europeans, to get this challenge,” she said.
Jonas Gahr Strain, the Prime Minister of Norway, described the extraordinary scenes in the White House as “serious and discouraging”.
“That Trump accuses Zelenskyy of gambling with the Third World War is deeply unreasonable and a statement from which I distance myself,” he said.
A result of other European leaders closed the ranks behind Zelenskyy without directly criticizing the US president.
“Your dignity honors the bravery of the Ukrainian people. Be strong, be brave, be fearless. You are never alone, dear President Zelenskyy,” said Ursula von Leyen, President of the European Commission and António Costa, President of the European Council, said in a common statement.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer promised “his unwavering support”.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who met Trump at the White House on Monday, was the first European leader to defend Zelenskyy on Friday night, saying: “I think we all know the situation: there is an aggressor who is Russia, and has an attacked people, which is Ukraine.”
Friedrich Merz, Chancellor waiting for Germany, said Berlin “stands” with Ukraine in good times and in testing. We should never confuse the aggressor and the victim in this terrible war. “
Expressions of support for Ukraine – and Trump’s rebukes, direct or indirect – underline how the transatlantic relationship has been broken by the US president’s hasty efforts to end the war and repair of links with Moscow.
Trump’s antagonist towards Ukraine, his threat to abolish the protection of NATO European allies who spend no more on protection, and his commitment to imposing 25 percent tariffs on EU imports have made Start that Europe must formulate a plan to reduce its confidence in the US, however, no.
Sharing in relations between Zelenskyy and Trump also stops pressure on senior European leaders who meet in London on Sunday for a rushing summit organized by Starmer.
The summit aims to formulate proposals to collectively protect Ukraine and increase costs of protection, reducing the continent’s dependence on America.
“Finally we have to wake up and understand,” This is, “said a senior EU diplomat in response to the White House Fallout. “We are in themselves and our parents on the other side of the Atlantic have just been destroyed from the family home, cut off our permissions and disinteredy us.”
Trump’s verbal attack on Zelenskyy, who came days after a European leadership, traveled to Ukraine to mark the third anniversary of Russia’s full occupation in the country, exploded any constant hope that they could persuade the US president to rethink his approach for a quick deal of peace.
During their White House visits this week, Macron and Starmer made a coordinated effort to persuade Trump to provide military support for a possible European stabilization force in Ukraine, which they both said was indispensable. These efforts have been broken by Friday confrontation at the White House.
No 10 Downing Street on Friday evening said Starmer had spoken with Zelenskyy and Trump and “playing his role to find a trail ahead.”
Giorgia Meloni, the Italian nationalist Prime Minister, called for an “immediate summit” between the EU and the US “to speak honestly how we aim to face today’s great challenges, starting with Ukraine”.
There was a noticeable exception from the European support crust for Zelenskyy: Hungary’s pro-Russian Prime Minister Victor Orbán Anoi with Trump.
“Strong men make peace, weak men wage war,” Orbán said. “Today President Trump stood boldly for peace. Even if it were difficult for many people to dissolve. Thank you, Mr. President. “
