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In an extraordinary display of public , heads of state, heads of government, and foreign ministers from across Europe and Canada are standing with Ukraine after a dramatic confrontation between former U.S. President Donald Trump, his vice president JD Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office.
During a tense meeting in Washington, DC, Trump and Vance accused Zelenskyy of being "disrespectful" and not showing enough gratitude for U.S. . Trump, raising his voice, warned Zelenskyy that he was "gambling with the lives of millions of people" and "World War III."
Trump and Vance berate Zelenskyy in Washington
Zelenskyy, in turn, firmly rejected any compromise with Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating, "There will be no compromises with a killer on our territory."
Shortly after their verbal confrontation, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to declare that Zelenskyy was "not ready for peace if America is involved." The Ukrainian president, however, expressed gratitude for the of the U.S. government and its people, emphasizing that Ukraine seeks "a just and lasting peace."
Europe and Canada rally behind Ukraine
The confrontation sparked a wave of for Ukraine from leaders across Europe and Canada. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised Zelenskyy's "dignity," while French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed that Russia remains the aggressor and Ukraine has the right to defend itself. German officials also condemned the treatment of Zelenskyy, with one lawmaker calling the White House scene "shocking."
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer personally reached out to both leaders, emphasizing the UK's "unwavering for Ukraine" and the need for continued international cooperation. In Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reaffirmed that Ukraine's struggle is "a fight that matters to us all."
Calls for stronger European leadership
Amid the fallout, some European leaders suggested that the time has come for Europe to take on a greater leadership role in ing Ukraine. Estonia's foreign minister, Margus Tsahkna, stated that "if Russia stops fighting, there will be no war. If Ukraine stops fighting, there will be no Ukraine." Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni proposed a summit between the U.S. and European allies to discuss Ukraine's future.
While Trump's stance signals a shift in U.S. rhetoric on Ukraine, the overwhelming international response underscores that much of the world remains committed to standing with Kyiv in its fight for sovereignty and security.