Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed gratitude to European leaders for their swift and unified support following a contentious meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House. Encounter which escalated into a public argument raised concerns about the future of U.S support for Ukraine and prompted European leaders to reaffirm their commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and defense against Russian aggression.
Following the heated exchange leaders from across Europe quickly rallied in support of Zelensky. French President Emmanuel Macron was notably vocal emphasizing the distinction between “aggressor Russia” and “victim Ukraine” and reaffirming commitment of France to sanctions against Russia and support for Ukraine. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also expressed unwavering support for Ukraine hosting Zelensky in London for discussions ahead of an emergency European summit.
Other European leaders including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the need for continued solidarity with Ukraine. The European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen praised Zelensky’s dignity and courage stating that he is never alone in his fight.
An emergency summit was convened in London to address the situation and reaffirm European support for Ukraine. Gathering aimed to secure a “just and enduring peace” in Ukraine and explore enhanced defense collaboration among European nations, given uncertainties about ongoing U.S commitment to NATO, summit also highlighted discussions on potential European defense initiatives including a nuclear deterrent as proposed by Friedrich Merz, Germany’s incoming chancellor.
Beyond Europe, leaders from Canada, Australia and New Zealand also expressed their support for Ukraine. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to standing with Ukraine, while Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised Ukraine’s resilience against Russian aggression. However, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán notably sided with Trump, advocating for a strong stance towards peace negotiations.
