Zelenskyy and Trump’s heated meeting shocks Ukraine and Europe, prompting tears

A Ukrainian MP said of the meeting: “I cried when I heard the news,” echoing the dismay expressed by lawmakers across Europe. Kyiv — The confrontational meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House triggered reactions of anger and alarm among European and Ukrainian observers, as Kyiv’s hopes of aligning Trump’s view of the war with its own grew increasingly faint with each sharp exchange. “I cried upon hearing these words,” said a Ukrainian MP, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the situation. Oleksandr, a 40-year-old Ukrainian officer fighting in Russia’s Kursk region, reacted to footage of the argument with an audible “Wow.” “We still have much work ahead,” he wrote. “War is better than shameful peace.” Zelenskyy left the White House earlier on Friday, abandoning a scheduled press conference. Afterward, Trump posted on Truth Social to make his position unmistakably clear, stating that the Ukrainian leader “is not yet ready for peace” and accusing him of disrespecting the United States. Trump added: “Come back when he’s ready for peace.” White House officials confirmed that the anticipated U.S.-Ukraine mineral agreement was also not signed. As part of the Trump administration’s effort to recoup U.S. wartime aid costs, the agreement would have granted Washington rights to exploit certain Ukrainian mineral resources. In a brief post-meeting statement, Zelenskyy thanked Trump, “Congress, and the American people,” adding, “Ukraine needs a just and lasting peace—and we are working toward it.” Meanwhile, European officials expressed support for Zelenskyy late Friday, with numerous lawmakers and diplomats voicing shock and disappointment. Leaders from Spain, Lithuania, Moldova, Sweden, Latvia, and Norway all posted messages of solidarity with Zelenskyy. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on the 10th: “Dear Zelenskyy, dear friends in Ukraine—you are not alone.” French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated support for Ukraine during a Friday evening press briefing: “I believe it was right three years ago to assist Ukraine and impose sanctions on Russia—and we continue doing so today. By ‘we,’ I mean the United States, Europe, Canada, Japan, and many other countries.” “We must thank everyone who has helped us—and respect those who have fought from the very beginning, because they fight for their dignity, independence, their children, and Europe’s security,” he added. “These are simple truths—but it’s worthwhile recalling them now.” Friedrich Merz, winner of Germany’s general election and likely next German chancellor, wrote to Zelenskyy: “We stand with Ukraine—through good times and bad.” Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof stated the Netherlands would continue supporting Ukraine—“especially now.” One prominent exception stood out among these expressions of European support: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán—a Moscow-friendly leader—who praised Trump on Friday as “courageously defending peace.”

Starmer tightly embraces Zelenskyy—but Hungary once again becomes that ‘other one’

Starmer led most of Europe in what could be called a performance—no, rather, in showing support for Zelenskyy. Outside 10 Downing Street, as Zelenskyy’s motorcade arrived at the Prime Minister’s residence, Starmer stepped out from the doorway, greeted Zelenskyy first with a firm handshake, then followed it with a prolonged, heartfelt embrace. He shared this moment on social media, captioning it: “Action—not just words. The UK stands with Ukraine.” It wasn’t only the UK: leaders from France, Germany, Poland, Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden—as well as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa—all voiced their support for Zelenskyy. Von der Leyen and Costa even jointly posted: “Your resilience embodies the courage of the Ukrainian people.” In effect, nearly the entire continent stood firmly behind Zelenskyy—yet amid this broad consensus, one distinct voice emerged. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán commented on the “heated clash” between Trump and Zelenskyy, posting on social media: “Strong men forge peace; weak men start wars. Today, President Trump courageously defended peace.” This is not the first time Hungary has diverged from the rest of Europe. Even before Zelenskyy’s visit to the U.S., Starmer—prior to his own trip to America—had already planned to convene a multilateral European leaders’ meeting in London to coordinate positions on U.S.-led efforts to end the Ukraine crisis. That meeting is now scheduled for March 2. Yet Hungary criticized the initiative: on February 27, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, speaking in Budapest, denounced the upcoming London gathering as a “meeting of Europe’s pro-war camp,” while declaring Hungary belonged to the “peace camp.” The implication was clear—Hungary would no longer endorse Europe’s pro-war stance supporting Ukraine’s continuation of this protracted conflict. So why does Hungary consistently become that “other one” within the European bloc? Geographically, although Hungary is often classified as an Eastern European country, it more accurately belongs to Central Europe. Its neighbors include Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, and Austria—neither sharing a border with Russia nor with France or Germany—making it a quintessential landlocked European nation. Yet this very “Central European” country repeatedly finds itself at odds with mainstream European positions. For instance, on the root causes of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Hungary rejects the prevailing European narrative and instead leans closer to Russia’s interpretation. Then, in July 2024—during Hungary’s rotating presidency of the EU—Orbán visited Kyiv first, then Moscow, aiming to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine. This move triggered fierce criticism from Ukraine and across Europe, resulting in sustained, widespread condemnation—until the situation eased somewhat following Trump’s election as U.S. president. And in February 2025, a group of European far-right parties convened at Madrid-Barajas Airport for a political gathering—an event attended by opposition parties only. Yet Orbán, as head of Hungary’s ruling party, not only attended but delivered a speech onstage—demonstrating, in full measure, Hungary’s role as Europe’s “other one.”

Europe Is Zelenskyy’s Only Ally Now, Latvian Leader Says

Oct 15, 2026

Latvian leader asserts Europe is Ukraine's only ally amidst US friction, coinciding with surging oil prices due to Middle East tensions and Russian refinery strikes.

bloomberg

Europe Is Zelenskyy’s Only Ally Now, Latvian Leader Says

FAQ