European leaders voiced strong support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday, following a contentious encounter with U.S. President Donald Trump during a visit to Washington. The diplomatic spat overshadowed Zelenskyy’s trip, which included a warm reception from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London shortly after.
Zelenskyy’s White House visit on Friday was meant to finalize a U.S.-Ukraine pact to co-develop Ukraine’s mineral resources—a deal Trump touted as a way to offset American aid since Russia’s 2022 invasion. But the agreement remained unsigned after a fiery exchange erupted during a preliminary meeting with Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance. Broadcast before reporters, the discussion turned sour as Zelenskyy resisted a peace deal with Russia lacking firm security assurances. Trump accused him of risking “World War III,” while Vance called him “ungrateful” for not sufficiently acknowledging U.S. assistance.
European heavyweights swiftly closed ranks around Zelenskyy. “Your resolve reflects the courage of Ukraine’s people. Stay strong—you are not alone,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, pledging continued efforts for a “fair and enduring peace.” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas declared, “Ukraine embodies Europe’s fight. We’ll bolster our backing to counter the aggressor. The free world needs fresh leadership, and today underscored that.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz affirmed, “Ukraine can count on Germany and Europe. No one yearns for peace more than Ukrainians, which is why we’re forging a path to a just resolution.” French President Emmanuel Macron echoed this, stating, “Russia is the aggressor; Ukraine, the victim. Supporting Ukraine and sanctioning Russia was the right call three years ago—and remains so today alongside the U.S., Canada, Japan, and others.” A spokesperson for Starmer added that the U.K. leader “stands resolute in supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and security as the foundation for lasting peace.”
Macron and Starmer had each visited the White House earlier this week, pressing to secure ongoing U.S. commitment to Ukraine—a goal now in question after Friday’s fallout.
In contrast, Russian officials and Hungary’s Viktor Orban, a Trump ally, hailed the U.S. president’s tough stance. Orban lauded Trump for “fearlessly championing peace,” while Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, gloated on Telegram that Trump had delivered Ukraine a “firm rebuke.” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova commended Trump’s “composure” in facing Zelenskyy—whom she branded a “disgrace”—and mocked his claim that Ukraine stood alone in 2022. “That Trump and Vance didn’t lose it entirely is a testament to their restraint,” she wrote.