Brussels: Hours after a tense meeting at the White House between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump, along with Vice President J.D. Vance, European leaders swiftly reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine.
What was expected to be a constructive dialogue between the two nations’ leaders quickly escalated into a fiery exchange. Trump criticized Zelenskyy, warning him against escalating global tensions: “You’re gambling with World War III, and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to this country, which has supported you more than many believe it should have.”
Following the dramatic encounter, top European officials voiced their solidarity with Ukraine on social media.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas emphasized Europe’s commitment, declaring, "Ukraine is Europe! We stand by Ukraine." She further suggested that Europe's role in global leadership was more crucial than ever, stating, "The free world needs a new leader, and it is up to us, Europeans, to take on this challenge."
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed this sentiment, commending Zelenskyy’s resilience: “Your dignity honors the bravery of the Ukrainian people ... You are never alone, dear President Zelenskyy.”
Political figures across Europe, including Germany’s likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz and outgoing leader Olaf Scholz, reinforced their stance. Merz stressed the importance of distinguishing between the aggressor and the victim in the conflict, while Scholz reiterated that no one desires peace more than Ukraine and assured Kyiv of unwavering European backing.
French President Emmanuel Macron took a firm position, stating, "There is an aggressor: Russia. There is a victim: Ukraine." He reaffirmed the necessity of supporting Ukraine and continuing sanctions against Russia. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also joined in, with Sánchez expressing solidarity in Spanish, English, and Ukrainian.
However, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stood apart from his European counterparts, openly aligning with Trump and thanking him for his stance.
Shortly after the meeting, Trump addressed the situation on his social media platform, Truth Social, announcing that a rare minerals deal with Ukraine was canceled. He criticized Zelenskyy’s approach to negotiations, stating, "I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for peace if America is involved, because he believes our involvement gives him an advantage. I don’t want advantage—I want peace." He further accused Zelenskyy of disrespecting the U.S. and declared that future discussions would only take place when the Ukrainian leader was ready for peace.
Despite the contentious meeting, Zelenskyy took to X to express gratitude for U.S. support, thanking the American people, Congress, and President Trump. He emphasized Ukraine’s commitment to securing a just and lasting peace.
