Thirty-three World Leaders Declare Support for Zelensky After Tense Meeting with Trump
Thirty-three world leaders have expressed their support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following a tense Oval Office meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump.
The leaders also condemned Russia’s actions in Ukraine, reaffirming their backing for Kyiv.
Zelensky’s meeting with Trump on Friday, attended by U.S. Vice President JD Vance, ended in a deadlock after heated discussions on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Tensions escalated over a proposed minerals deal that would grant the U.S. extensive access to Ukraine’s rare earth resources in exchange for continued American support.
While Zelensky insisted on security guarantees for Ukraine as part of any agreement, Trump resisted, leading to a confrontational exchange. The situation intensified when Vance accused Zelensky of being “disrespectful,” pointedly asking, “Have you said ‘thank you’ once?” The meeting concluded abruptly, with Zelensky and his delegation being escorted out of the White House.
Following the meeting, Zelensky took to X to express gratitude to Trump, the U.S. Congress, and the American people. “Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that,” he wrote.
In an interview with Fox News, Zelensky declined to apologise to Trump but acknowledged the public fallout, calling it “not good for both sides.” However, he remained firm, stating, “I cannot change the Ukrainian attitude towards Russia. They are killers for us.”
Despite the tension, Zelensky said his relationship with Trump could still be salvaged.
On Saturday, he reiterated Ukraine’s need for international support, posting, “It is very important for us that Ukraine is heard and that no one forgets about it, neither during the war nor after.”
World Leaders Rally Behind Ukraine
In response to the meeting, global leaders took to social media to reaffirm their support for Ukraine and condemn Russia’s continued aggression.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau denounced Russia’s “illegal and unjustifiable invasion” and praised Ukraine’s resilience. “Their fight for democracy, freedom, and sovereignty is a fight that matters to us all. Canada will continue to stand with Ukraine,” he stated.
French President Emmanuel Macron defended the sanctions against Russia and acknowledged Ukraine’s struggle. “Respect to those who, since the beginning, have been fighting. Because they are fighting for their dignity, their independence, and the security of Europe.”
Slovenian President Nataša Musar criticised the Oval Office exchange, stating, “What we witnessed in the Oval Office undermines these values and the foundations of diplomacy. We stand firmly in support of Ukraine’s sovereignty.”
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb also voiced solidarity with Ukraine, with Stubb emphasising, “Ukraine is fighting not only for her independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity but for survival as a nation.”
Montenegrin President Jakov Milatovic and Slovakia’s former President Zuzana Čaputová echoed these sentiments, with Čaputová stating, “The people of Ukraine are defending their right to live. It’s that simple. They deserve all the support they can get.”
Several other world leaders issued similar statements, reaffirming their commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and condemning Russia’s continued aggression.
