London—The way some European Union countries and the United Kingdom have been exaggerating courting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky since his fiasco at the Oval Office on Friday could have only one explanation, that is to offend the President of the United States Donald Trump.
According to CNN, Zelensky “enjoyed a heartfelt welcome from Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Saturday that could not be more different than the reception he endured at the White House”.
The British PM Starmer led the praising and supporting campaign of Zelensky morally and materially, while the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a key Trump ally in Europe, took a less provocative position calling for a summit with the US and European nations to discuss the war in Ukraine, saying that division makes the West weaker.
A few world leaders were swift to support President Trump after the remarkable meeting in the Oval Office with Zelensky, among them the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.
However, Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu, whom Trump has disregarded international and human laws to approve his war crimes against the Palestinian people, seem to not bother to return some of Trump’s favors and stand with whom he calls “friend” during an unprecedented “let down” by allies.
Justifying Zelensky’s failure in the Oval Office, the French President Emmanuel Macron said in a statement, “there is an aggressor, which is Russia, and an attacked people, which is Ukraine”.
“Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians do,” wrote German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on X. “Therefore we are working on a common path to a lasting and just peace. Ukraine can rely on Germany – and on Europe.”
Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, sounded even more unappreciative to Washington’s decades of support of Europe saying in a statement that it’s “clear that the free world needs a new leader.”
The European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen wrote on X, “your dignity honors the bravery of the Ukrainian people. Be strong, be brave, be fearless. You are never alone, dear President”. “We will continue working with you for a just and lasting peace.”
European Union leaders also issued a joint statement urging Zelensky to “be strong.”
“Ukraine, you’ll never walk alone,” Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said, while Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna cautioned that if “Ukraine stops fighting, there will be no Ukraine,” a clear antithesis to President Trump’s call for a negotiated peaceful solution to the Ukrainian crisis.
In the Oval Office, President Trump told Zelensky: “You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people,” adding, “you’re gambling with World War III.”
Later, Zelensky acknowledged that without US support, his country’s position would grow “difficult.” Still, he repeatedly declined opportunities to apologize to Trump, during an interview with Fox News.
There was also a quick support to Zelensky from other US allies outside Europe, including from all members of the so-called Five Eyes Anglosphere intelligence partners, Australia, UK, Canada and New Zealand.
The Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote on X that his country would “continue to stand with Ukraine.”
Australia’s prime minister reiterated his country’s support for Kyiv, saying it will “continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.” “We stand unequivocally with Ukraine in their struggle, because we regard that as a struggle for the upholding of international law,” Anthony Albanese said.
Meanwhile New Zealand’s leader Christopher Luxon said his nation remained “steadfast in its support for Ukraine as it defends itself in a war that Russia started.” “Ukraine, you’ll never walk alone,” he added.
Johann Wadephul, Deputy of conservative party –group in Germany Parliament, the party of the incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz, wrote on X, “The scenes from the White House are shocking. How can you stab the president of an invaded country in the back like this? Free Europe will not betray Ukraine!”
A notable exception to the wave of European solidarity was Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a far-right populist and Trump ally, who wrote on X to stand with the US President: “Strong men make peace, weak men make war,” Orban wrote. “Today President (Trump) stood bravely for peace. Even if it was difficult for many to digest. Thank you, Mr. President!”
The Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said “Yesterday, once again, a clear line was drawn between the war party and the peace party. I am referring not so much to the debate between Trump and Zelenskiy, but to the subsequent reactions to this debate.” “President Trump and his peace efforts were condemned one after another by people responsible for allowing a bloody war and callously sacrificing Ukraine and the lives of thousands of Ukrainians,” he added.
Meanwhile, Immediately after Zelensky’s poor and intimidating performance in the Oval Office on Friday, the US President eventually decided that Zelensky was “not in a place to negotiate,” a White House official said as quoted by CNN. The Ppresident directed Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz to deliver the message to the Ukrainians who were waiting nearby: “It was time for Zelensky to leave”.
Waltz told Fox News on Saturday, recounting his conversation with Zelensky, “time is not on your side here,” and “time is not on your side on the battlefield”. Adding, “time is not on your side in terms of the world situation, and, most importantly, US aid and the taxpayers’ tolerance is not unlimited.”
The Ukrainians protested, saying they wanted to continue the talks, but the request was declined.
