Trump Launches Furious Criticism at European Leaders and Zelensky over Ukraine Negotiations

Donald Trump issued sharp criticism against European leadership, specifically targeting UK's Sir Keir Starmer, for their recent weekend meetings regarding the war in Ukraine. Trump strongly rebuked Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky for indicating that peace remains distant, blaming him for prolonging the conflict due to continued reliance on US support. Trump’s comments came at a crucial diplomatic juncture and have potentially complicated efforts towards peace.

The remarks escalated doubts about America's commitment to supporting Ukraine militarily, as Trump threatened a decrease in American backing unless Zelensky shifted his stance. He further ridiculed European leaders for openly admitting their reliance on US support, asserting the criticism undermines their collective diplomatic strength against Russia. Trump ominously warned that Zelensky might not "be around very long" if a peace agreement was not achieved swiftly.

This deepening diplomatic tension follows an unprecedented confrontation last week, during which Trump and US Vice President JD Vance publicly rebuked Zelensky at the White House, with Zelensky reportedly asked to leave afterward. Many British MPs and political figures, including members from the SNP and Conservative Alicia Kearns, urged Prime Minister Starmer to distance the UK from Trump following this incident.

Despite domestic political pressures, Prime Minister Starmer continues to underline the critical importance of Britain’s relationship with the US, resisting calls to cancel Trump’s planned state visit. Emphasizing close collaboration with America, he argued that a unified UK-US stance remained indispensable for ensuring European security and achieving lasting peace in Ukraine. Starmer praised the ongoing security alliance and called it imprudent to weaken such an integral bond during this tense international climate.

However, growing unease also emerged across UK political parties, marked by Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey’s remarks emphasizing the necessity to decrease overreliance on the Trump administration, especially regarding Russia. Davey openly accused Trump of being unreliable and increasingly aligning US foreign policy closer to authoritarian leaders rather than traditional democratic allies.

Meanwhile, internal divisions in the UK Parliament regarding spending priorities surfaced, particularly after the government's move to reduce overseas aid budgets to increase defence funding. Veteran Labour MP Dame Emily Thornberry expressed concern that this financial shift would negatively impact critical international support efforts, including those related to Ukraine; Starmer, however, reiterated that the government remains committed to the international aid agenda, promising a careful evaluation of funding allocations to preserve essential assistance programs abroad.