Donald Trump launches blistering attack on ‘decaying’ Europe and its ‘weak’ leaders | Politics | News
Donald Trump has launched a vicious attack on the “weak” European leaders of “decaying” nations. The US president’s comments followed crisis talks between Sir Keir Starmer and European allies on ending the war in Ukraine.
In an extraordinary interview, the US president once again accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of not reading the final draft of the peace plan. The shock attack on Europe and Kiev will not assuage concerns that Ukraine could be abandoned to Russian aggression. In an interview with Politico published on Tuesday, Mr. Trump again pushed Mr. Zelensky to accept a U.S. proposal for Ukraine to cede territory to Russia, claiming that Moscow has “the upper hand” and that Kiev must “play ball.”
Downing Street said no one wanted peace in Ukraine more than Mr Zelensky and rejected Mr Trump’s criticism of Europe’s failure to “produce”.
A No 10 spokesman said: “I would reject that in terms of how you see the number of countries in the coalition of willing discussions and also the work the UK is doing in responding to sanctions, including against the stay-behind fleet, but we strongly support the US peace process.”
The official also said: “We welcome the significant efforts of the United States to bring peace to Ukraine. No one does.” [that] More than President Zelensky.”
Ukraine and its European allies will likely insist that any ceasefire must come with security guarantees from both the United States and the “coalition of the willing” assembled by Britain and France. Kiev is also likely to resist the transfer of territory to Russia.
Mr Zelensky, who is continuing his diplomatic tour in Europe, said he would send “refined documents” to the White House “in the near future”.
He wrote about X: “The Ukrainian and European components are now more developed and we are ready to offer them to our partners in the USA. Together with the American side, we hope to quickly make the potential steps as feasible as possible.”
US ambassador Warren Stephens will visit Downing Street on Tuesday afternoon. Downing Street stressed the continued “strong relationship” between Sir Keir and Mr Trump following the president’s behavior towards European leaders. Mr. Trump’s new national security strategy also criticized America’s traditional allies.
A Number 10 spokesman said there were “still some unresolved issues” in efforts to end the Ukraine conflict, “but as you have seen from both the US and Ukraine side, intensive work on the peace plan continues and will continue in the coming days and weeks”.
In an earlier readout of the Cabinet meeting, the spokesman said: “The Prime Minister said the risks were high but the UK continues to work with all partners to make progress on securing a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.
“The Foreign Minister added that the threat from Russia is broader than Ukraine, it is to Europe and submarine cables.”
