LONDON: Ukraine’s European allies, set to collect in London on Sunday (Mar 2), rallied behind President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after Donald Trump threw him out of the White House and accused him of not being “prepared” for peace with Russia.
Surprised by Friday’s altercation within the Oval Workplace, which noticed Zelenskyy depart the White Home with out signing an anticipated mineral deal, European leaders rushed to his defence.
“You aren’t alone,” mentioned Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, recent off his personal go to to the White Home, mentioned he had spoken to each Trump and Zelenskyy, and vowed “unwavering help” for Kyiv.
Zelenskyy wrote “thanks on your help” in particular person replies on social media platform X to round 30 messages from European leaders.
Starmer and Zelenskyy will meet in London on Saturday afternoon forward of Sunday’s summit, the prime minister’s workplace mentioned.
On Sunday, representatives from greater than a dozen European international locations will convene within the British capital to concentrate on shoring up help for “securing a simply and enduring peace” in Ukraine, in response to Downing Road.
The gathering will even deal with the necessity for Europe to extend defence cooperation amid fears over whether or not the USA will proceed to help NATO.
French President Emmanuel Macron has mentioned he is able to “open the dialogue” on a attainable future European nuclear deterrent, following a request from Germany’s subsequent chief, Friedrich Merz.
Merz has burdened the necessity for the continent to maneuver shortly to “obtain independence” from the USA on defence issues.
Turkey, additionally invited, will probably be represented by Overseas Minister Hakan Fidan, who spoke by cellphone on Saturday together with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, in regards to the Ukraine warfare, a Turkish international ministry supply mentioned.
Turkey, which hosted negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in 2022, is able to reprise the function, however stays dedicated to “Ukraine’s territorial integrity”, the supply mentioned.
