In the wake of a tense Oval Office meeting between President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, European leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraine, underscoring a widening transatlantic divide.
Concerns among European officials had already been mounting following Vice President Vance’s remarks at the Munich Security Conference, where he criticized Europe for not standing up for free speech and other traditionally liberal values. The contentious meeting in Washington has now prompted key European figures to convene emergency discussions on regional security and Ukraine’s defense strategy, writes The Associated Press.
Another major summit is scheduled for Sunday in London, hosted by U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer. More than a dozen European and EU leaders, including Zelenskyy, will gather for a meeting meant to drive forward action on Ukraine and security.
Starmer spoke with both Trump and Zelenskyy on Friday and maintained his strong support for Ukraine, his office said in a statement.
“He 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,” the statement said.
The European leaders’ comments Friday largely did not mention Trump or Vance, but rather sought to assure Ukraine of their support as the war with Russia enters its fourth year. Zelenskyy re-posted their comments on X, writing “thank you for your support” to each — likely a dig at the Trump administration.
Tensions flared during the White House meeting when Vice President Vance accused Zelenskyy of being disrespectful. In response, Trump abruptly canceled a minerals agreement, which he claimed would have facilitated an end to the war between Ukraine and Russia. The Ukrainian delegation was reportedly asked to leave the premises.
Most neutral observers blamed Zelensky for the blowup.
This is entirely Zelensky’s fault. Trump greeted him graciously, was ready to turn the page. Just said he wanted to get help Ukraine get it’s territory back. And Z comes in and gets into a fight in public? I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. https://t.co/633sPiJQPn
— Marc Thiessen 🇺🇸❤️🇺🇦🇹🇼🇮🇱 (@marcthiessen) February 28, 2025
I’ve said many times that I do not agree with the US president’s approach to Ukraine.
Still, Zelensky screwed this up bigtime
These are two thoughts that can live compatibly in one’s head. https://t.co/XdJcRkzYe2
— Ryan Evans (@EvansRyan202) February 28, 2025
Even noted Trump hater Jake Tapper appeared to pin blame on the Ukrainian president.
One pro-Ukraine expert, normally supportive of Zelensky, offered me this perspective: pic.twitter.com/0VANpy1QIG
— Jake Tapper 🦅 (@jaketapper) February 28, 2025
As European leaders prepare for the London summit, divisions between Washington and its allies appear to be deepening, raising concerns about the long-term stability of transatlantic relations and the future of Western support for Ukraine. Their first order of business may want to focus on no longer sending billions of dollars to Putin by continuing to purchase energy from Russia in order to claim that their own countries are “green.”
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Ukraine IS EUROPES PROBLEM. Europe needs to stand united against Russia but they won’t. They ALWAYS come to the U.S. to do their dirty work. They don’t want to waste their treasure but are always willing to have the U.S. waste it’s treasure. ENOUGH.
OK EU fix this now its on U
Ukraine is simply put, another 3rd world Eastern euro trash country. And now that our President Trump has eliminated most of the spenditures of the biden regime that totally spent our money on trash, Europeans will have to fork over their fair share. Not to mention the billions allegedly sent to Z that never got there. I also smell major kickbacks to biden, harris, Schumer, pelosi and other commies within