EU leaders rally support for Zelenskiy after disastrous White House meeting
- 1 March, 09:25
European Union leaders and US Democratic Senators have rushed to throw their support behind Volodymyr Zelenskiy after the meeting between the Ukrainian leader and US President Donald Trump erupted into an angry argument on Friday.
Democratic Senator Adam Schiff described Trump’s angry exchange with Zelenskiy as the meeting of “a hero and a coward” in the Oval Office. “And when the meeting is over, the hero will return home to Ukraine,” Schiff posted on X social media platform.
Polish Foreign Minster Donald Tusk took to social media to voice support for Ukraine and Zelenskiy. “Dear Zelenskyy, dear Ukrainian friends, you are not alone,” Tusk posted on X. French and Spanish leaders were among European leaders to support Zelenskiy. “Ukraine, Spain stands with you,” wrote Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on X.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas suggested that “the free world needs a new leader” following the shouting match between Trump and Zelenskiy. “We will step up our support to Ukraine so that they can continue to fight back [against] the aggressor,” Kallas said.
Italy’s right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for a meeting between the US and European leaders to reaffirm their bonds. “A summit without delay is needed between the United States, European states and their allies to talk frankly about how we intend to tackle today’s major challenges, starting with Ukraine, which together we have defended in recent years,” Meloni said.
During the Oval Office meeting that lasted half an hour, Trump berated Zelenskiy for “gambling with World War III”, accused him of not being ready for peace and threatened the Ukrainian leader that “you’re either going to make a deal or we’re out.” Zelenskiy, however, contradicted, calling Russian President Vladimir Putin a “killer and terrorist”.
