After a heated meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky, Western leaders rushed to show support for Ukraine. This exchange highlighted a growing distance between Washington and its allies.
The Oval Office meeting showed the tough balancing act Western countries face since Trump returned to power. They want to back Zelensky and Ukraine against Russian aggression but also don’t want to alienate a president who seems more aligned with Vladimir Putin.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Trump and then talked to both leaders after their confrontation. Starmer expressed his firm support for Ukraine, emphasizing the need for a peaceful solution that respects Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Meanwhile, the UK is preparing to host a summit with European leaders. Zelensky is expected to join, and Starmer plans to discourage any peace deal that might favor Russia.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a Trump supporter, echoed the sentiment for a united approach among European nations regarding the war in Ukraine. She believes that division only weakens the West.
Recently, many European leaders have been surprised by the decline in American support for Ukraine. This shift stands in stark contrast to the strong backing from the previous Biden administration. Many are puzzled by Trump’s tough stance on Zelensky and concessions to Putin even before negotiations begin.
Zelensky has reached out to several European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and European Council President António Costa, seeking solidarity after his tense exchange with Trump. Macron stated, “Russia is the aggressor, and Ukraine is the victim.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reaffirmed Germany’s support for Ukraine, stressing that Ukrainians seek peace more than anyone else and that Germany will stand with them.
The EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, remarked that the free world needs a new leader. Meanwhile, other leaders, like NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, have conveyed their support for Zelensky.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda assured Ukraine that it would not be alone, and Estonia’s Foreign Minister warned that if Ukraine stops fighting, it could lose its sovereign existence.
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also reiterated his country’s support for Ukraine, marking the importance of standing against unjust aggression.
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed unwavering support for Ukraine, framing it as a fight for international law. Similarly, New Zealand’s leader emphasized steadfast backing for Ukraine.
In contrast, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a supporter of Trump, took to social media to endorse the U.S. president, suggesting that strong leaders forge peace.
The tension from the Trump-Zelensky meeting has actually strengthened Zelensky’s support at home. Ukraine’s lawmakers expressed pride in their president’s courage to stand up for their nation.
Oleksandr Merezhko, head of the parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, stated there was no doubt the parliament would back Zelensky.
Ukrainian military officials also conveyed a message of defiance, emphasizing their commitment to resist. Some voiced strong opinions against acceptance of a peace deal that doesn’t consider Ukraine’s sovereignty.
As tensions remain high, one officer on Telegram expressed a sentiment shared by many: it is better to fight to the end than accept a stagnant, unresolved conflict.
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