The tense meeting between the Ukrainian president, Volodimir Zelenski, and his American counterpart, Donald Trump, in the White House has generated a wave of reactions in Europe, where several leaders have expressed their unconditional support to the Ukrainian president. The confrontation, which resulted in the abrupt departure of Zelenski without signing the agreement on rare landss, has revealed the growing differences between kyiv and Washington In relation to war in Ukraine.
European solidarity with Zelenski
The first leader to react was the Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, who sent a message of support to Ukraine ensuring that “they are not alone.” Along the same lines, the president of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, wrote in X in several languages: “Ukraine, Spain is with you”.
From Portugal, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, offered a more extensive message after meeting with the Portuguese prime minister, Luís Montenegro:
“You have to thank all those who have helped and have to respect those who have been fighting from the beginning,” said Macron, stressing that “there is an aggressor, which is Russia, and a attacked people, which is Ukraine (…). They are simple things, but it is good to remember them at times like these.”
In addition, Macron confirmed that he plans to talk to Zelenski in the next few hours.
For their part, the main leaders of the European Union, António Costa (European Council), Ursula von der Leyen (European Commission) and Roberta Metsola (European Parliament), issued a joint message in which Zelenski’s “dignity” highlighted during his encounter with Trump, stating that this “honors the courage of the Ukrainians.”
“Be strong, be brave, do not be afraid. You will never be alone, dear president Volodimir Zelenski. We will continue working with you for a fair and lasting peace,” they published in X.
The EU suggests that Europe must assume leadership
One of the most forceful pronouncements was that of the high representative of the European Union for foreign policy, Kaja Kallas, who considered that what happened in the White House shows the need for a new global leadership.
“This episode makes it clear that the free world needs a new leader and corresponds to Europeans to accept this challenge“Kallas said.
The Estonia diplomat emphasized that the EU will continue to intensify its support for Ukraine: “Ukraine is Europe! We support Ukraine and we will increase our help to continue fighting against the aggressor.”
The acting chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz, also spoke, stating that “nobody wants peace more than Ukrainian citizens”, in clear allusion to Trump’s statements, who questioned Zelenski’s willingness to negotiate the end of the conflict.
“Ukraine can trust Germany and Europe,” said Scholz, highlighting the joint efforts of Kyiv and his allies to achieve “lasting and fair peace.”
Other European leaders also showed their support. Portuguese prime minister, Luís Montenegro, said in X that “Ukraine can always count on Portugal.” Meanwhile, his Czech counterpart, Petr Fiala, reiterated his country’s commitment to Kyiv: “We are on the side of the free world.”
Similar messages were issued by the president of Lithuania, Gypsy Nauseda (“Ukraine, you will never walk alone “), Prime Minister Letona, Evika Silina, and the Swedish Prime Minister, Ulf Kristerson, who emphasized that Ukraine not only struggles for her own freedom, but for that of all of Europe.
Leaders from other countries such as Finland, Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Norway and Estonia joined this support, reaffirming their commitment to sovereignty and resistance of Ukraine.
A meeting that ended in confrontation
What initially seemed to be a protocol meeting in the White House ended in a heated confrontation when the discussion focused on the origins of the war and the role of the United States in the conflict.
Trump and vice president JD Vance reproached Zelenski for the alleged lack of gratitude to Washington, insinuating that Kievv has not recognized enough the help provided by the USA by the US at a key moment of the conversation, Trump questioned if Zelenski was really interested in reaching peace, which unleashed a tense reaction of the Ukrainian leader.
The dispute between both leaders has generated concern in Europe, where It is feared that Trump’s position can weaken western support to Ukraine at a critical moment of the conflict.
