Trump-Zelensky shouting match takes world leaders aback

WASHINGTON (AFP): European leaders threw their support behind Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after a raised-voice spat on Friday with Donald Trump sent shockwaves across the world, casting doubts over efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

The US president openly berated Zelensky for not being “thankful”, and later accused the Ukrainian leader of “not being ready for peace” and having “disrespected” the United States in the “cherished Oval Office”.

Here are some of the political reactions from around the world.

– EU: ‘new leader’ –

European Union chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa assured Zelensky that he was “never alone”.

“Be strong, be brave, be fearless,” wrote the European commission and council presidents in a joint statement on social media, telling Zelensky: “We will continue working with you for a just and lasting peace.”

The bloc’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas questioned the United States leadership of the transatlantic alliance between European powers and Washington.

“Today, it became clear that the free world needs a new leader. It’s up to us, Europeans, to take this challenge,” she wrote on social media.

– France: Russia the ‘aggressor’ –

French President Emmanuel Macron said that Russia was the “aggressor” in the Ukraine war.

“There is an aggressor which is Russia. There is an aggressed people which is Ukraine,” Macron told journalists, adding: “We were all right to help Ukraine and sanction Russia three years ago and to continue to do so.”

He later went further to say that “if anyone is playing at World War III, it’s Vladimir Putin”, referring to Trump’s accusations against Zelensky.

– Germany: don’t ‘confuse’ –

Germany’s likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz assured his support to Zelensky in a posting on X.

“We must never confuse the aggressor and the victim in this terrible war,” Merz said. The outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz also voiced support for Ukraine, as did Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who added that Kyiv’s “quest for peace & security is ours”.

– Hungary: Trump stood for ‘peace’ –

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, one of the closest partners of both Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, thanked Trump for standing “bravely for peace”.

“Strong men make peace, weak men make war,” Orban wrote in a post on X.

– Italy: summit needed –

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for the United States, Europe and their allies to gather over the Ukraine war “without delay”.

“A summit without delay is needed… to talk frankly about how we intend to tackle today’s major challenges, starting with Ukraine, which together we have defended in recent years,” she said.

– Netherlands: support ‘undiminished’ –

“Dutch support for Ukraine remains undiminished. Especially now,” Prime Minister Dick Schoof said on X, adding “we want lasting peace and an end to the war of aggression that Russia has started.”

– Poland: ‘not alone’ –

Staunch Kyiv ally Poland moved to reassure Ukrainians after the dispute.

“Dear Ukrainian friends, you are not alone,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on X in a post addressed to Zelensky.

– Spain: ‘stands with’ Ukraine –

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said his country would stand by war-torn Ukraine after the row.

“Ukraine, Spain stands with you,” Sanchez, a staunch backer of Ukraine since Russia’s 2022 invasion who pledged one billion euros of aid in a visit to Kyiv this week, wrote on X.

– Russia: ‘cocaine clown’ Zelensky –

“For the first time, Trump told the truth to the cocaine clown’s face,” said former president Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy chairman of Russia’s security council, referring to Zelensky.

Kirill Dmitriev, one of Moscow’s negotiators in the first high-level talks between Russian and US officials since the Kremlin sent troops into Ukraine, branded the spat between the two leaders as “historic”.

– UK: ‘unwavering support’ –

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stood with most European leaders to echo his support for Ukraine ahead of hosting Zelensky this weekend.

Starmer “is doing all he can to find a path forward to a lasting peace based on sovereignty and security for Ukraine”, a Downing Street spokeswoman said, adding he spoke to both leaders in the aftermath of the White House meeting.

– Ukraine: ‘not possible’ –

Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmygal said Zelensky was “right” as “peace without guarantees is not possible”.

“Cease-fire without guarantees is the way to Russian occupation of the entire European continent,” Shmygal wrote on X.

Army chief Oleksandr Syrsky, who rarely makes political statements, also spoke out affirming the armed forces stood behind Zelensky, while calling for unity.

– US Democrats: Trump ‘doing Putin’s work’ –

Senate Democrats accused Trump and his Vice President JD Vance of siding with Putin.

“Trump and Vance are doing Putin’s dirty work,” Democratic Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer posted on social media.

– Other Ukrainian allies –

Other Ukrainian allies rallied around the country, with Canada saying Kyiv was not only fighting for its freedom but also “ours”.

Denmark described its “pride” in supporting Ukraine while Sweden referred to Ukrainians as “friends”.

Row sparks US political firestorm

Reactions to an extraordinary Oval Office clash between US President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and visiting Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday laid bare America’s political divisions on the grinding three-year conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

Democrats accused Trump and Vance of doing Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s “dirty work” after they berated Zelensky in front of the world’s media.

But Republicans said the US leaders were right to accuse pro-Western Zelensky of lacking gratitude for American support in Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s invasion.

Here is a selection of political reaction:

– Democrats –

“What we saw in the Oval Office today was beyond disgraceful. Trump and Vance berating Zelensky — putting on a show of lies and misinformation that would make Putin blush — is an embarrassment for America and a betrayal of our allies. They’re popping champagne in the Kremlin.”

– Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen

“Trump and Vance are doing Putin’s dirty work. Senate Democrats will never stop fighting for freedom and democracy.”

– Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer

“Trump is transforming what the United States is as a country in the world into a far right, authoritarian, transactional, valueless oligarchy aligned with the world’s autocracies.”

– Ben Rhodes, deputy national security advisor to former president Barack Obama

“We cannot let President Trump rewrite history or upend proven partnerships with decades of bipartisan support. I extend my sincere apologies to President Zelensky and again reaffirm my support for our Ukrainian friends.”

– Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, co-chair of the Ukraine Caucus

“President Trump and his administration continue to embarrass America on the world stage. Today’s White House meeting with the President of Ukraine was appalling and will only serve to further embolden Vladimir Putin, a brutal dictator.”

– House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries

– Republicans –

“Thanks to President Trump — the days of America being taken advantage of and disrespected are OVER… What we witnessed in the Oval Office today was an American President putting America first.”

– House Speaker Mike Johnson

“Zelensky is either going to have to fundamentally change or go. I can’t believe most Americans, after what they saw today, would want to be partners with Zelensky.”

– South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham

“Thank you @POTUS for standing up for America in a way that no President has ever had the courage to do before. Thank you for putting America First. America is with you!”

– Secretary of State Marco Rubio

“Zelensky could have left the White House today with a peace deal for his country, ending this conflict. Instead, he chose to disrespect our President and nation. Thank you, President Trump and Vice President Vance, for standing up for our country!”

– Tennessee congresswoman Diana Harshbarger

“Ridiculous grandstanding by Zelensky in the Oval Office. The United States has spent hundreds of billions of dollars to defend Ukraine. And this is the thanks the American people get? It’s time to end this war.”

– Florida congressman Greg Steube

Zelensky says Trump relationship can be repaired

Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday that his relations with the United States can still be repaired, after President Donald Trump shouted at him in an angry White House meltdown accusing the Ukrainian leader of refusing to make peace with Russia.

“Of course,” Zelensky said when asked in a Fox News interview if the relationship with Trump could be salvaged.

US-Ukrainian ties are about “more than two presidents,” he said, adding that Ukraine badly needs Washington’s help in the fight against Russia’s far bigger and better-armed military.

“It will be difficult without your support,” Zelensky said on Fox — Trump’s favorite news channel.

Zelensky’s olive branch came hours after the extraordinary Oval Office scene where the years-long US policy of massive support for Ukraine’s fight against Russian invasion collapsed in a shouting match.

The row saw European leaders scramble to voice support for Ukraine after Zelensky was made to leave the White House early and without signing a minerals-sharing deal seen as vital to an eventual US-brokered truce.

During the clash, played out in front of US and international media, Trump and Vice President JD Vance shouted at Zelensky, accusing him of not being “thankful” and refusing to accept their proposed truce terms.

“You don’t have the cards right now,” Trump said. “You’re either going to make a deal or we’re out, and if we’re out, you’ll fight it out and I don’t think it’s going to be pretty.”

Zelensky departed shortly after, with Trump posting on social media that “he can come back when he is ready for peace.”

US media reported that Zelensky had been told to leave by senior Trump officials.

The president told journalists later Friday that Zelensky was “overplaying his hand” and should agree to end fighting “immediately.”

Zelensky, however, refused to apologize, telling Fox News, “I’m not sure that we did something bad.” He did, however, say he wished the exchange had not taken place in front of reporters.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later on CNN called for Zelensky to “apologize for wasting our time for a meeting that was going to end the way it did.”

– ‘Not alone’ –

US allies in Europe — already worried that Trump will force Ukraine to effectively hand victory to Russian President Vladimir Putin — rushed to back Zelensky.

“You are not alone,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, fresh off his own visit to the White House, said he had spoken to both Trump and Zelensky by phone following the clash and vowed “unwavering support” for Kyiv.

Far-right Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for a summit “without delay” between the United States, Europe and their allies on Ukraine.

Trump and Vance are “doing Putin’s dirty work,” top US Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer posted.

But Russia was delighted.

Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev called Zelensky an “insolent pig” who had received “a proper slap down in the Oval Office.”

Trump’s Republican Party echoed the Russians in blaming Zelensky.

Ukraine appeared united behind Zelensky, with its army chief vowing to stand with him while the foreign minister praised his “bravery.”

– Compromise with ‘killer’? –

The meltdown came after Trump said Ukraine will have to make “compromises” in a truce with Russia, which has occupied swaths of the country.

Zelensky said there should be “no compromises with a killer on our territory.”

After he pointed out that previous Western-backed peace efforts had failed to deter Russian aggression, Vance interrupted and called him “disrespectful.”

The session then boiled over into Trump and Vance loudly berating the Ukrainian leader. He sat in evident discomfort as his hosts talked over him.

Trump has alarmed Kyiv and European allies with his abrupt U-turn in US policy, casting himself as a mediator between Putin and Zelensky and refusing to condemn the Russian invasion.

He said in the Oval Office that he had “spoken on numerous occasions” to Putin — more than has been publicly reported.

Trump called Zelensky a “dictator” last week and has said he trusts Putin to “keep his word” over a ceasefire.

Trump told Zelensky that as a mediator he could not criticize one of the main sides.

However, speaking to Fox News, Zelensky said he wished Trump was “really more on our side.”

Meanwhile, Russia’s assault on Ukraine continued.

Russian infantry were on Friday storming the Ukrainian border from the Russian region of Kursk, near areas of the region that were seized last summer by Ukrainian forces, Kyiv said Friday.

Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called for Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky to apologize for an earlier clash with President Donald Trump.

Zelensky should “apologize for wasting our time for a meeting that was going to end the way it did,” Rubio said on CNN after Oval Office talks devolved into argument and raised voices.

Rubio also questioned whether Zelensky — the president of a country that has endured more than three years of war following Russia’s February 2022 invasion — wanted it to end.

“You start to perceive that maybe Zelensky doesn’t want a peace deal. He says he does, but maybe he doesn’t, and that active, open, undermining of efforts to bring about peace is deeply frustrating for everyone who’s been involved,” the top US diplomat said.