A tense Oval Office meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and U.S. President Donald Trump ended in conflict on Friday, sparking strong reactions from leaders worldwide.
Zelenskiy expressed gratitude for U.S. support but emphasized Ukraine’s need for a just and lasting peace. European leaders, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron, reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraine, while Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s spokesperson echoed unwavering support.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni warned against Western division, calling for an immediate U.S.-Europe summit on Ukraine. Meanwhile, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán praised Trump’s stance for peace, contrasting with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, who criticized Trump’s comments as “deeply unreasonable.”
Russia’s Dmitry Medvedev called the exchange a “brutal dressing down”, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reassured Ukraine of continued EU support.
The fallout from this meeting could have significant implications for Ukraine’s ongoing defense against Russia’s invasion, as leaders assess the strength of the West’s united front.