European leaders show support for Zelensky after Trump clash

BRUSSELS - European leaders lined up to show solidarity with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Feb 28, after he came under attack from US President Donald Trump and Vice-President J.D. Vance in a stunning White House confrontation.

Within a short time, prime ministers and presidents from the north, south, east and west of the continent posted on social media in support of Mr Zelensky and Ukraine in the war against Russia's invasion, following the extraordinary clash.

While they did not directly criticise the US President, their comments made clear they stood by Kyiv – highlighting a major rift between traditional allies the US and Europe over the war since Mr Trump returned to office.

“There is an aggressor: Russia. There is a people who are under attack: Ukraine,” French President Emmanuel Macron, who visited Mr Trump this week, posted on X. “Respect to those who, since the beginning, have been fighting. Because they are fighting for their dignity, their independence, for their children and for the security of Europe.”

Earlier, Mr Trump had

accused Mr Zelensky of disrespecting the US.

The two leaders had been expected to conclude a deal on exploiting Ukraine’s mineral resources but Mr Zelensky left the White House without signing the agreement. Mr Trump also said Mr Zelensky was not ready for peace.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk was among the first to show his support for Mr Zelensky and Ukraine on social media, telling them: “You are not alone.”

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council president Antonio Costa - the European Union’s two top officials - told Mr Zelensky in a joint post: “Your dignity honours the bravery of the Ukrainian people.”

“Be strong, be brave, be fearless. You are never alone,” they said. “We will continue working with you for a just and lasting peace.”

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said: “Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians do.”

German conservative leader Friedrich Merz, Mr Scholz’s likely successor after his party won the Feb 23 general election, posted: “We stand with Ukraine in good and in testing times. We must never confuse aggressor and victim in this terrible war.”

Meloni suggests summit

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has supported Ukraine but also has strong ties to Mr Trump, sought to strike a balance in her response. She suggested a summit involving the US, European nations and allies to discuss how “to deal with the great challenges of today, starting with Ukraine”.

“Every division of the West makes us all weaker and favours those who would like to see the decline of our civilisation,” Ms Meloni said in a statement.

By contrast, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas – a former prime minister of Estonia – was blunt in declaring her view that Washington could no longer lead the free world. “Today, it became clear that the free world needs a new leader. It’s up to us, Europeans, to take this challenge,” she said. “We will step up our support to Ukraine so that they can continue to fight back the aggressor.”

A statement from No. 10 confirmed that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who on March 2 is hosting a summit of European leaders including Mr Zelensky, had spoken with the US and Ukrainian presidents after the row and that he retained “unwavering support for Ukraine”.

Leaders from Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden were also among those expressing support for Ukraine.

However, Hungarian nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a Trump ally, backed the US President. “Strong men make peace, weak men make war,” he posted on X. “Today President @realDonaldTrump stood bravely for peace. Even if it was difficult for many to digest. Thank you, Mr President!”

After his testy meeting with Mr Trump, the Ukrainian leader appeared on Fox News and admitted that the clash was “not good” but he remained confident that his relationship with the US President could be salvaged. REUTERS