European leaders have united in support of Ukraine following a tense meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump at the White House. The talks, intended to broker a ceasefire and discuss a potential mineral deal, ended in a heated exchange, with Trump accusing Zelensky of 'gambling with World War Three'.
French President Emmanuel Macron posted on X: 'There is an aggressor: Russia. There is a people under attack: Ukraine.' German Chancellor Olaf Scholz wrote: 'Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians do. Ukraine can rely on Germany – and on Europe.' Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared: 'Ukraine, Spain stands with you.'
Support also came from Canadian, Australian and New Zealand leaders. However, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer was notably absent from the social media outpouring, following his own visit to Washington on 27 February, where he reportedly failed to secure further US support for Ukraine.
During the Oval Office meeting, Vice President JD Vance criticised Zelensky, saying he 'should be thanking the President'. Trump added: 'You're gambling with the lives of millions of people.' Zelensky defended himself, urging the US to make 'no compromises with a killer'.
After the meeting, Zelensky thanked America on X, and in a Fox News interview expressed hope the relationship could be salvaged, stating: 'I want him to be more on our side.'
