Recently, European leaders were shocked by the speech of U.S. representative Vance at the Munich Security Conference, in which he criticized the current state of European democracy. Faced with this sudden situation, prime ministers and presidents of European countries have taken action, urgently convening multiple summits aimed at discussing security issues.
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03-01, 2025Another important summit is scheduled to be held in London on Sunday, hosted by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. More than a dozen European and EU leaders, including Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, will gather to jointly promote action in the areas of Ukraine and security.
Prime Minister Starmer's office said in a statement that he spoke with Trump and Zelenskyy on Friday and reiterated his firm support for Ukraine. The statement emphasized that Starmer "remains steadfast in his support for Ukraine and is doing everything he can to find a path to lasting peace, which must be built on Ukraine's sovereignty and security."
Although European leaders mostly did not mention Trump or Vance in their speeches on Friday, they were all working to assure Ukraine of their support, as Ukraine's war with Russia has entered its fourth year. Zelenskyy reposted their comments on the social platform X and replied to each one with "Thank you for your support," which may have been a veiled jab at the Trump administration.
It is reported that during a special meeting in Washington, Trump accused Zelenskyy, after Vance said that it was disrespectful for Zelenskyy to argue with Trump in the Oval Office in front of the American media. "Did you ever say 'thank you'?" Vance questioned Zelenskyy. The Ukrainian president expressed or had already expressed gratitude four times in their conversation.
Subsequently, Trump canceled the signing of a mineral agreement, which he said could have helped Ukraine end the war with Russia more quickly. Zelenskyy left the White House shortly after Trump yelled at him, publicly expressing his dissatisfaction. The White House said the Ukrainian delegation had been told to leave.
A senior Ukrainian official, who asked not to be named, said that after leaving the White House, Zelenskyy spoke with French President Macron, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and European Council President Antonio Costa, and said that all conversations expressed "support" for the Ukrainian leader.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni proposed an "immediate summit" between the United States and European allies to "frankly discuss how we intend to respond to today's enormous challenges, first and foremost the issue of Ukraine." She urged the West to remain united. "Every division in the West weakens all of us and benefits those who want to see our civilization decline," she said. "Division benefits no one."
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said to Zelenskyy on the social platform X: "Your dignity reflects the bravery of the Ukrainian people. Strong, brave, fearless. You will never be alone, dear President." Friedrich Merz, Germany's likely future Chancellor, wrote: "Dear Volodymyr @Zelenskyy, we stand with #Ukraine, in good times and bad. In this terrible war, we must never confuse the aggressor and the victim."
Merz's party won the German election, ensuring Ukraine has a stronger supporter in the EU's largest country. Merz pledged during the campaign to unite Europe to face challenges from Russia and the United States. However, Alice Weidel, co-leader of Germany's far-right, anti-immigration Alternative for Germany party, wrote on X: "Historical moment. Trump and Vance!" and attached a link to a video of the meeting. The Alternative for Germany's platform calls for the immediate lifting of sanctions against Russia and opposes the shipment of weapons to Ukraine. Weidel also met with Vance in Munich.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán praised Trump's behavior in the Oval Office, portraying Zelenskyy as someone who opposes peace for his own country. "The strong create peace, the weak wage war," Orbán wrote on X. "Today, President Donald Trump bravely defends peace. Even if it is difficult for many to accept. Thank you, Mr. President!" Orbán has long been a supporter of the Kremlin and openly opposes neighboring Ukraine. After winning the Hungarian election in 2022, less than six weeks after Russia's full-scale invasion, he listed Zelenskyy as one of the opponents he defeated in the campaign.
Meanwhile, in Estonia, which borders Russia, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said that the only obstacle to peace is Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to continue the war. "Now is the time for Europe to act," Tsahkna said in a statement. "We don't need to wait for other things to happen; Europe has enough resources, including Russia's frozen assets, to enable Ukraine to continue fighting." Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson reminded Ukraine of the risks faced by the Nordic and Baltic countries, as well as others, if Russia's aggression spreads. "You are not only fighting for your own freedom, but also for the whole of Europe," Kristersson wrote on X.
European officials from Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, and Spain also expressed their support for Ukraine. Meanwhile, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev praised Trump while insulting Zelenskyy. "This brazen pig has finally been slapped hard in the Oval Office," Medvedev wrote on X. "And (Donald Trump) is right: the Kyiv regime is 'betting on World War III.'" At the same time, Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev reposted statements from Elon Musk and U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
