European leaders quickly expressed their strong support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after a heated exchange with President Donald Trump on Friday raised concerns about future U.S. support for Ukraine. The confrontation highlighted growing tensions between Washington and its European allies, with many wondering how to balance their support for Zelensky against a U.S. president who has shown increasing sympathy for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The clash in the Oval Office underscored a tricky challenge facing Western leaders since Trump’s return to office in January: how to continue supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression without upsetting Trump, who has been more friendly toward Putin and is shaking up long-standing international security alliances.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who met with Trump in Washington on Thursday, spoke with both the U.S. president and Zelensky following their disagreement. A Downing Street spokeswoman said Starmer “remains fully committed to supporting Ukraine” and is working for “lasting peace, based on Ukraine’s sovereignty and security.”
The UK is planning a summit of European leaders on Sunday to discuss continued support for Ukraine. Zelensky is expected to attend, with Starmer urging Trump to avoid any peace deal that would “reward” Russia.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a Trump ally, also called for a summit between the U.S. and European nations to discuss the war in Ukraine, saying division among the West only weakens their position.
Many European leaders were taken aback by a recent drop in American support for Ukraine after almost three years of strong backing from President Joe Biden’s administration. They were especially confused by Trump’s harsh criticism of Zelensky and his willingness to give ground to Putin before even starting peace talks.
Zelensky spoke to French President Emmanuel Macron and European Council President António Costa after the heated meeting with Trump. Macron later said, “Russia is the aggressor, and Ukraine is the attacked nation.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz showed solidarity by writing on social media, “Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians. Ukraine can count on Germany—and Europe.”
Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, stated that “the free world needs a new leader” and urged Zelensky to “stay strong.” NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also spoke with Zelensky.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda offered a message of support, saying, “Ukraine, you’ll never walk alone,” while Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna warned that “if Ukraine stops fighting, there will be no Ukraine.”
Countries outside Europe also voiced strong support. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reaffirmed his country’s commitment to Ukraine, saying, “Ukrainians have fought with courage and resilience, and their fight matters to us all.”
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also pledged continued support, emphasizing the fight as one for “international law.”
New Zealand’s leader Christopher Luxon echoed these sentiments, stating his country would remain “steadfast in its support for Ukraine.”
However, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a Trump ally, expressed support for the U.S. president, stating, “Strong men make peace, weak men make war.”
In Ukraine, the fallout from Trump’s remarks only seemed to strengthen Zelensky’s support. Lawmakers expressed pride in Zelensky for standing up to Trump. Oleksandr Merezhko, head of Ukraine’s Foreign Affairs Committee, said, “We are united behind our president but hope wisdom prevails.”
Ukraine’s military, which has been holding back Russian forces with the help of U.S. and European aid, also expressed defiance. Military officer Stanislav Buniatov suggested that Trump was trying to “crush Zelensky” and criticized the lack of meaningful peace proposals.
One officer, using the callsign Aleks, said he would rather fight to the death than accept a temporary peace that could lead to more suffering later. “It’s better to fight than to freeze the war and then be drained again in three years,” he said.
