European leaders react after Trump-Zelensky clash over peace deal

President Volodymyr Zelensky’s meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday ended in a tense and heated exchange over a peace deal for the Russia-Ukraine war.

While European leaders largely defended Zelensky, some aligned with the American stance.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas

Kallas said it was clear that “the free world needs a new leader”.
“Ukraine is Europe! We stand by Ukraine,” Kallas said in a social media post.

“We will step up our support to Ukraine so that they can continue to fight back [against] the aggressor,” she added. “Today, it became clear that the free world needs a new leader. It’s up to us, Europeans, to take this challenge.”

French President Emmanuel Macron

Macron told reporters in Portugal that Russia is the “aggressor” in the Ukraine war and Ukrainians are the “aggressed people”.

“I think we were all right to help Ukraine and sanction Russia three years ago, and to continue to do so. We, that is the United States of America, the Europeans, the Canadians, the Japanese and many others,” Macron said.

“And we must thank all those who have helped and respect those who have been fighting since the beginning. Because they are fighting for their dignity, their independence, their children and the security of Europe. These are simple things, but they’re good to remember at times like these, that’s all,” he added.

In the Oval Office, Trump told Zelenskiy his refusal to concede to Russia at the negotiating table was “gambling with world war III”

Later, Macron told Portuguese television: “If someone is playing World War III, his name is Vladimir Putin.”

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk

“Dear Ukrainian friends, you are not alone,” Tusk posted on X.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez

“Ukraine, Spain stands with you,” Sanchez, wrote on X.

Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini

“Aim for PEACE, stop this war! Come on @realDonaldTrump”, Salvini wrote on X.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson

“Sweden stands with Ukraine. You are not only fighting for your freedom but also for all of Europe’s. Slava Ukraini!” he wrote on X.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen

Von der Leyen posted a message of solidarity with Zelensky, writing on X: “Your dignity honors the bravery of the Ukrainian people. Be strong, be brave, be fearless.”

Norway Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere

Stoere condemned the events in the White House as “serious and disheartening.”
“Ukraine still needs the US’s support, and Ukraine’s security and future are also important to the US and to Europe.

“President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has strong support in Ukraine, broad support in Europe, and he has led his people through a very demanding and brutal time, under attack from Russia. That Trump accuses Zelenskyy of gambling with World War III is deeply unreasonable and a statement I distance myself from,” he said in a statement to Norwegian TV2.

Estonia

Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna wrote on X that the only obstacle to peace was Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “decision to continue his war of aggression”.
“If Russia stops fighting, there will be no war. If Ukraine stops fighting, there will be no Ukraine. Estonia’s support to Ukraine remains unwavering. Time for Europe to step up,” Tsahkna wrote.

Deputy head of Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev

Medvedev, a former Russian president, wrote on Telegram that Trump had given Ukraine a “strong slap on the wrist”.

“For the first time, Trump told the cocaine clown the truth to his face: the Kyiv regime is playing with the third world war. And the ungrateful pig received a strong slap on the wrist from the owners of the pigsty. This is useful. But it’s not enough – we must stop military aid to the Nazi machine,” Medvedev said.

Italy’s hard-right leader Giorgia Meloni

A close Trump ally, called on Europeans not to allow deep divisions to open up with Washington and said Rome would, in the hours ahead, call for an EU-U.S. summit to get diplomacy back on track.

“What is needed is an immediate summit between the United States, European states, and allies to talk frankly about how we intend to deal with the great challenges of today, starting with Ukraine, which together we have defended in recent years,” she said.