European leaders renew assist for Ukraine after Zelenskyy’s stormy assembly with Trump

PARIS — Leaders from throughout Europe got here rapidly to the protection of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, after his televised conflict with President Trump and Vice President Vance.

A lot of them publicly pushed again in opposition to the Trump administration’s perceived alignment with Russia’s chief Vladimir Putin and the obvious browbeating of Zelenskyy whereas he was contained in the Oval Workplace on Friday.

French President Emmanuel Macron was among the many most pointed in his public statements, distinguishing between what he known as the “aggressor” — Russia — and the “victim” — Ukraine — and saying that nations together with France who had helped Ukraine and sanctioned Russia three years in the past, after the preliminary invasion in February 2022, had been “right” to proceed to take action.

France’s prime minister, François Bayrou, praised Zelenskyy as the dignity of Europe for “refusing to bend,” regardless of the televised criticism he confronted from each Vance and Trump. “It remains for us to decide what we Europeans want to be,” Bayrou wrote, in mild of the brand new Trump administration’s impression on Europe’s protection. “And if we want to be at all.”

In the meantime, the Eiffel Tower was lit up Friday night time within the Ukrainian flag colours of blue and yellow.

Each Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Trump this week to attempt to hammer dwelling the necessity for continued army assist to Ukraine, and to maintain the U.S. aligned with Europe in any peace negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv.

From European leaders, “unwavering support” for Ukraine

In keeping with Starmer, he spoke to each Trump and Zelenskyy after the uncomfortable Oval Workplace assembly. His workplace at 10 Downing Road issued a press release that stated Starmer “retains unwavering support for Ukraine, and is doing all he can to find a path forward to a lasting peace based on sovereignty and security for Ukraine.”

However one in all his ministers, Douglas Alexander, known as the fracas within the White Home “deeply troubling and sobering,” and Starmer’s chief political opponent, Conservative occasion chief Kemi Badenoch, posted on social media “respectable diplomacy” was important for peace, and {that a} “divided West only benefits Russia.”

Europe’s leaders will meet in London on Sunday, at Starmer’s invitation, to debate their subsequent steps after the Oval Workplace episode in Washington.

The European Union’s strongest chief, Fee President Ursula von der Leyen, informed Zelenskyy on-line that his “dignity honors the bravery of the Ukrainian people,” including an encouragement that he “be strong, be brave, be fearless,” and concluding “you are never alone.”

Inside simply an hour or two of the Oval Workplace assembly, related expressions of assist and solidarity on-line got here from the Spanish premier, Pedro Sánchez, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa and President Edgars Rinkēvičs, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala and President Petr Pavel, and plenty of others, together with Australia’s premier, Anthony Albanese.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, whose nation lately ended centuries of neutrality within the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to hitch the NATO alliance, stated Sweden stood with Ukraine, which was preventing for its personal freedom, in addition to Europe’s.

Germany’s present chancellor, Olaf Scholz, and the seemingly subsequent chancellor, Friedrich Merz, additionally voiced their assist, as Germany’s overseas minister, Annalena Baerbock, stated her nation and different European allies stood united “alongside Ukraine — and against the Russian aggression.” She stated Ukraine might depend on “unwavering” assist from Berlin, in addition to elsewhere in Europe, and minutes later her Dutch counterpart, Caspar Veldkamp, additionally stated Kyiv might depend on the Netherlands’ assist too. “Whatever it takes,” Veldkamp wrote, “for as long as it takes.”

In Ukraine itself, the response was quick — and vociferous. One outstanding Ukrainian politician, Mustafa Nayyem, who beforehand served beneath Zelenskyy, posted on social media that the Trump administration “doesn’t just dislike us. They despise us …. as a country.” He stated the U.S. chief’s “contempt is deeper than indifference, and more dangerous than outright hostility.”

On the Kyiv Meals Market, a soldier named Denys Sokolov stated, “I think the main difference is that Ukraine wants makes peace but Trump wants to make a deal. That’s a huge difference in our politics, in our vision to how we want to end the war.”

EU overseas coverage chief and former Estonian President Kaja Kallas went additional in her direct criticism of Trump, saying, “it became clear today that the free world needs a new leader,” including that “it’s up to us Europeans, to take this challenge.”

In a single nation bordering Ukraine, Poland, Prime Minister Donald Tusk who, as president of the European Council, commonly met with Trump throughout his first time period, expressed assist for Ukraine too. “Dear Ukrainian friends,” he wrote on social media, addressing Zelenskyy and repeating the mantra, “you are not alone.”

In Moldova, one other Ukrainian neighbor, President Maia Sandu gained re-election in a presidential runoff in November. Her authorities has since publicly shared a number of allegations of Russia’s electoral interference, because it continues to confront a Russian-supported breakaway area often known as Transnistria. Sandu wrote that “Ukraine defends its freedom – and ours.”

Moscow calls Zelenskyy “a dangerous threat”

There was no speedy response from the Kremlin, however outstanding Russian authorities officers took to social media to reward Trump and savage Zelenskyy — lengthy a favourite goal of a Russian propaganda machine that depicts him as fascist, corrupt and drug-addled.

Dmitry Medvedev, the hawkish head of Russia’s Safety Council, in contrast Zelenskyy to an “ungrateful pig” who obtained a “good beat down.” “It was useful but not enough,” added Medvedev. “[The U.S.] needs to end military aid to the Nazi machine ” President Vladimir Putin has claimed Russia’s offensive goals to “denazify” Ukraine — whose democratically elected president is Jewish.

In an official remark posted to the International Ministry web site, Russian International Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova seized on Trump’s view that, slightly than looking for a negotiated peace, Zelenskyy wished to impress a wider world conflict.

“With his ugly and boorish behavior during his time in Washington, Zelenskyy confirmed that he is a dangerous threat to the global community and an irresponsible firebrand for a wider war,” Zakharova stated.

NPR’s Joanna Kakissis contributed reporting from Kyiv and NPR’s Charles Maynes reported from Tbilisi, Georgia.