BRUSSELS: European leaders lined up to show solidarity with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, after he came under attack from US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance in a stunning White House shouting match.
\nWithin a short time, prime ministers and presidents from the north, south, east and west of the continent posted on social media in support of Zelensky and Ukraine in the war against Russia\u2019s invasion, following the extraordinary clash.
\nWhile they did not directly criticize the US president, their comments made clear they stood by Kyiv \u2014 highlighting a major rift between traditional allies the United States and Europe over the war since Trump returned to office.
\n\u201cThere is an aggressor: Russia. There is a people who are under attack: Ukraine,\u201d French President Emmanuel Macron, who visited Trump this week, posted on X.<\/p>\n
\u201cRespect 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,\u201d Macron added.
\nEarlier, Trump had accused Zelensky of disrespecting the United States. The two leaders had been expected to conclude a deal on exploiting Ukraine\u2019s mineral resources but Zelensky left the White House without signing the agreement.
\nTrump also said Zelensky was not ready for peace.
\nPolish Prime Minister Donald Tusk was among the first to show his support for Zelensky and Ukraine on social media, telling them: \u201cYou are not alone.\u201d
\nEuropean Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa \u2014 the European Union\u2019s two top officials \u2014 told Zelensky in a joint post: \u201cYour dignity honors the bravery of the Ukrainian people.\u201d
\n\u201cBe strong, be brave, be fearless. You are never alone,\u201d they said. \u201cWe will continue working with you for a just and lasting peace.\u201d<\/p>\n
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said: \u201cNobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians do.\u201d
\nGerman conservative leader Friedrich Merz, Scholz\u2019s likely successor after his party won last Sunday\u2019s general election, posted: \u201cWe stand with #Ukraine in good and in testing times. We must never confuse aggressor and victim in this terrible war.\u201d
\nThe European Union\u2019s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas \u2014 a former prime minister of Estonia \u2014 was blunt in her comments.
\n\u201cToday, it became clear that the free world needs a new leader. It\u2019s up to us, Europeans, to take this challenge,\u201d she said.
\n\u201cWe will step up our support to Ukraine so that they can continue to fight back the aggressor.\u201d<\/p>\n
Leaders from Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Ireland, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden were also among those expressing support for Ukraine.
\nBy contrast, Hungarian nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a Trump ally, backed the US president.
\n\u201cStrong men make peace, weak men make war,\u201d he posted on X. \u201cToday President @realDonaldTrump stood bravely for peace. Even if it was difficult for many to digest. Thank you, Mr. President!\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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