US President Donald Trump has criticized European leaders as 'weak' and suggested the US could scale back support for Ukraine. In a wide-ranging interview with Politico, he stated that 'decaying' European countries have failed to control migration or take decisive action to end Ukraine's war with Russia, accusing them of letting Kyiv fight 'until they drop.' Trump argued that Russia holds the 'upper hand' and urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to 'play ball' by ceding territory to Moscow.
In response to Trump's claims, Downing Street in the UK rejected the notion that Europe has been inactive, pointing to the UK's leadership on sanctions and reiterating commitment to the US-led peace process.
Trump claimed that ideological divisions are threatening to fracture Washington's alliances, and when asked whether leaders he views as weak could still be allies, he replied, It depends. He continued, I think they're weak, but I also think they want to be so politically correct. I think they don't know what to do.
These comments come as Trump increases pressure on Zelensky and Kyiv's allies to find an end to the war in Ukraine. His remarks coincided with the release of his administration's new 33-page National Security Strategy, which warned of Europe's potential 'civilisational erasure' and raised questions about the reliability of certain nations as allies. Russia welcomed the strategy, aligning it with Moscow's own perspectives, while the strategy echoed Trump's earlier criticisms of western Europe’s migration and energy policies.
In response to Trump's claims, Downing Street in the UK rejected the notion that Europe has been inactive, pointing to the UK's leadership on sanctions and reiterating commitment to the US-led peace process.
Trump claimed that ideological divisions are threatening to fracture Washington's alliances, and when asked whether leaders he views as weak could still be allies, he replied, It depends. He continued, I think they're weak, but I also think they want to be so politically correct. I think they don't know what to do.
These comments come as Trump increases pressure on Zelensky and Kyiv's allies to find an end to the war in Ukraine. His remarks coincided with the release of his administration's new 33-page National Security Strategy, which warned of Europe's potential 'civilisational erasure' and raised questions about the reliability of certain nations as allies. Russia welcomed the strategy, aligning it with Moscow's own perspectives, while the strategy echoed Trump's earlier criticisms of western Europe’s migration and energy policies.
