Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has left the United States after an unsuccessful visit, which saw a stormy meeting punctuated by an altercation with his US counterpart Donald Trump.
Contrary to what was expected, the visit did not witness the signing of the rare metals sharing agreement between Kiev and Washington, which was scheduled to be signed at the end of the meeting that brought the two presidents together at the White House, which seemed friendly before turning into a “global shock”, after a violent verbal attack by the US president against his guest accusing him of”disrespecting the United States” and his unwillingness to achieve peace with Russia.
Zelensky thanks allies
Trump’s attack on Zelensky was admired by Moscow, while it aroused the resentment of Europeans and their solidarity with the Ukrainian president, some of whom called for the need to hold a European summit on Ukraine. Zelensky responded to these positions by expressing his thanks to the allies, via social media platforms.
The official account of the Ukrainian president, via “X”, on Saturday and Friday night, republished messages in support of him, with the comment “Thank you for your support” on each of them.
Despite his altercation with Trump, Zelensky had written in a post on “X” on Friday night, “thank America, thank for the support, thank for this visit. Thank you to the president, Congress and the American people”.
“Ukraine needs a just and lasting peace, and we are working on it,”he added.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiya also “thanked” his European counterparts who supported Kiev.
The White House meeting aroused the discontent of Democrats in America, and the leader of the Democratic minority in the US Senate, Chuck Schumer, accused Trump and Vance of doing “dirty work” for Russian President Vladimir Putin
A miracle
Commenting on what happened, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed that Trump showed”restraint” by not hitting Zelensky during the altercation.
“The abstention of Trump and(his deputy Jay Dee) Vance from beating this scum is a miracle of restraint,”she wrote on Telegram.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban also thanked Trump for standing “on the side of peace” after the altercation with Zelensky.
He said: “strong men make peace and weak men make war . Today (Friday) President Trump stood courageously on the side of peace. Although it was difficult for many to realize it. Thank you, Mr. President!”.
European shock
In turn, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the president of the European Council, Antonio Costa, stressed the support of Zelensky.
In a joint statement, they said: “you will never be alone. Be strong, be brave, be brave. We will continue to work with you for a just and lasting peace”.
For her part, EU foreign minister kaya Callas pledged to stand by Kiev, doubting Washington’s leadership of the Western world.
“It has become clear that the free world needs a new leader,” Callas wrote on social media. “It’s up to us as Europeans to accept this challenge.
In turn, French President Emmanuel Macron stressed the existence of “an aggressor is Russia and an aggrieved people is Ukraine”. “I think we were all right to help Ukraine and punish Russia, three years ago and to continue to do so,”he added.
For his part, British prime minister Keir Starmer pledged “unwavering support” to Ukraine, according to his office, which also noted that Starmer spoke to both Trump and Zelensky after their meeting in Washington.
Starmer’s Downing Street spokeswoman said: “the prime minister spoke last night (last) with Presidents Trump and Zelensky . He maintains unwavering support for Ukraine and is doing everything he can to find a way forward towards a lasting peace based on the sovereignty and security of Ukraine,”he said.
“Ukraine can count on Germany and Europe,”said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
As for the winner of the recent German elections and its future chancellor Friedrich Mertz, he said: “the aggressor should never be confused with the victim” in this dispute.
Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni called for a summit “without delay” between the United States, Europe and their allies.
“A summit without delay is necessary between the United States, Europe and their allies in order to openly discuss how we intend to face the current great challenges, starting with Ukraine, which we have defended together in recent years,”she said.
You are not alone
“Dear Zelensky, my dear Ukrainian friends, you are not alone,”Polish prime minister Donald Tusk stressed.
Spain also confirmed, through the words of its prime minister Pedro Sanchez, that it stands by Ukraine.
The Netherlands stressed that its support for Ukraine is “unwavering”, while Swiss Confederation president Karen Keller-Suter announced via social media platforms that her country “remains resolutely committed in favor of sustainable peace (in Ukraine), while condemning the Russian aggression against a sovereign country”.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, via “X”, said that Ukraine’s fight against Russia is a defense of democracy, “and this is important for all of us”.
Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen stressed that her country is “proud” to stand by Ukraine.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Saturday that his country “will stand by Ukraine” as long as necessary
