Most European leaders back Zelenskyy as he joins crisis talks in London
World
The meltdown that unfolded on Friday dashed Ukrainian hopes that the US could be a reliable partner
(AP) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the American people and leadership and voiced hope for “strong relations,” a day after an astonishing Oval Office blowout with US President Donald Trump that left many uncertain where the once staunch allies stood.
Zelenskyy on Saturday arrived in London ahead of a summit on Sunday organised by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer with other European leaders.
The summit will also include leaders from France, Germany, Denmark, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Turkey, Finland, Sweden, Czechia and Romania, as well as the NATO secretary-general and the presidents of the European Commission and European Council.
The meltdown that unfolded on Friday in the final minutes of the highly anticipated meeting at the White House between Trump and Zelenskyy seemed to dash, at least for now, Ukrainian hopes that the United States could be locked in as a reliable partner in helping fend off, and conclude, Russia’s three-year onslaught.
Here’s the latest:
NATO chief says he told Zelenskyy to restore relationship with Trump
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said he told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that he had to “find a way to restore his relationship with the American president” after the two leaders engaged in an extraordinary meltdown at the White House on Friday.
Rutte told the BBC on Saturday that he told Zelenskyy that “he really had to respect what President Trump has done so far for Ukraine.” He was referring to the first Trump administration’s decision in 2019 to supply Ukraine with Javelin antitank missiles that Ukraine used to deadly effect against Russian tanks in the first wave of the 2022 invasion.
Calling the Friday meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy “unfortunate,” Rutte said he “knew as a fact that the American administration is extremely invested in making sure that Ukraine gets to a durable peace” with Russia.
Rutte said he expected European leaders, who were meeting in London on Sunday, to help secure a future peace deal by providing Ukraine with security guarantees.
Alaska Sen. Murkowski says Oval Office scene was ‘regrettable’
Republican US Sen. Lisa Murkowski says she is “sick to her stomach” that the Trump administration “appears to be walking away from our allies and embracing Putin.”
Murkowski, a longtime senator from Alaska with an independent steak, has been one of the few Republicans in Congress willing to publicly break with Trump. Her statement on Saturday was a lonely voice of support among Republicans in Washington.
Even Republicans sympathetic to Ukraine, including Sen. Lindsey Graham and House Speaker Mike Johnson, have been critical of Zelenskyy following Friday’s contentious White House meeting.
“This week started with administration officials refusing to acknowledge that Russia started the war in Ukraine,” Murkowski wrote on X. “It ends with a tense, regrettable conversation in the Oval Office and whispers from the White House that they may try to end all US support for Ukraine.”
Macron has phone calls with Trump and Zelenskyy
French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with President Donald Trump and his Ukraine counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy after their stunning spat in the Oval Office on live television, the French presidency said.
Macron had calls with Trump and Zelenskyy ahead of Sunday’s summit in London to discuss Ukraine. He also spoke with British Prime minister Keir Starmer, EU Council president Antonio Costa and NATO secretary general Mark Rutte, the Elysee Palace said.
The phone calls were also aimed at preparing a summit of EU leaders next week in Brussels that will also focus on the future of Ukraine.
‘We stand with you,’ Starmer tells Zelenskyy
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer embraced President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday and told him he had the nation’s unwavering support a day after the blowout at the White House with President Donald Trump.
The Ukraine leader arrived in London to shouts of support from people who had gathered outside Starmer’s official residence where he was hugged by the British prime minister. “And as you heard from the cheers on the street outside, you have full backing across the United Kingdom,” Starmer told him. “We stand with you, with Ukraine, for as long as it may take.”
Zelenskyy, who thanked Starmer and the people of the U.K. for their support and friendship, will meet with King Charles III on Sunday before attending the summit with European leaders.
Orban calls on EU to launch peace talks with Russia
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban says the European Union should follow “the example of the United States” and start “direct discussions with Russia on a ceasefire and sustainable peace in Ukraine.”
Orban, considered the Kremlin’s closest partner among EU leaders, said in a letter to the president of the European Council that “this approach is not reconcilable” with the draft conclusions for an upcoming summit of EU leaders next week in Brussels. The draft conclusions state that there can be no negotiations on Ukraine without Ukraine, and that a ceasefire can only take place as part of a comprehensive peace agreement.
The letter from Orban was leaked on Saturday and its authenticity was confirmed to The Associated Press by a person with knowledge of the document. The person requested to remain anonymous because the letter was not public.
Czech prime minister says Europe is being tested
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala says “Europe faces a historic test” and has to be able to take care of itself. “Nobody else will do it.”
Fila said on Saturday that Europe has to increase its military support for Ukraine and European countries have to increase their arms spending to reach “at least” 3% of GDP.
“If we don’t increase our effort fast enough and let the aggressor dictate its conditions, we won’t end up well,” he said.
Slovak prime minister blasts Zelenskyy
Slovak populist Prime Minister Robert Fico repeated his country won’t provide Ukraine any military or financial support that would help it fight Russia.
Fico also demanded that an emergency EU summit in Brussels on Thursday agree to a call for an immediate ceasefire, “which is something that President Zelenskyy and a majority of EU member states refuse to do.”
Fico said his country also wants the summit to specifically request Ukraine to reopen the transit of Russian gas to Europe.
He warned that if the summit doesn’t respect the Slovak requests, “the European Council might not be able to agree on its position regarding Ukraine on Thursday.”
Trump’s national security adviser says Zelenskyy wasn’t ‘ambushed’
President Donald Trump’s national security adviser says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “has not gotten the memo that this is a new sheriff in town.”
Mike Waltz said on Saturday on Fox News that the Ukrainian leader heard from former President Joe Biden, “as long as it takes, as much as it takes, blank check.”
Waltz spoke a day after a White House blowout between Trump and Zelenskyy derailed plans to sign an economic agreement between the US and Ukraine.
He rejected suggestions among some Trump critics that the president and Vice President JD Vance “ambushed” Zelenskyy.
“That is absolutely and categorically false,” Waltz said.
Polish president calls on Zelenskyy to negotiate
Poland’s President Andrzej Duda has called on Zelenskyy to return to the negotiating table in order to ensure the security of his country, arguing that only the United States is able to stop Russian aggression.
Duda is a strong supporter of Ukraine and has friendly ties with Trump.
“Volodymyr Zelenskyy should return to this table, sit calmly at this table, remain calm, negotiate a solution that will make Ukraine safe,” Duda told reporters in Poland.
He said that he sees no other force than the United States that could stop Russian aggression.
