It was a weekend for history books. What began with US President Donald Trump, furiously rebuking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, ended with a demonstration of European Union in London and promises of struggle to dismiss negotiations about the US Russian War.
Here are the five main conclusions of a public dispute that has profound implications for Washington’s relationship with some of its strongest allies:
Consequences of the Zelensky-Trump Meeting
Friday in the White House oval room shocked Western allies, but it is certain that it occurred after weeks of major changes in transatlantic relations led by the new White House administration, which promotes the “America in the First” agenda.
Such changes first became apparent when US Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, said Kiev’s adhesion to the NATO was unrealistic – which overthrew Russian policy and gave Russia a big push – and made clear to European allies that the US would not give European and Ukrainian security more priority. Vice President JD Vance later gave a blunt speech to European leaders in Munich, claiming that they are suppressing freedom of expression, losing control of immigration, refusing to work with far-right parties. In addition, he stated that the biggest threat they face comes from inside and not from China and Russia.
And in the midst of all this, Trump had already unfairly accused Kiev of starting the conflict and labeled Zelensky of “dictator.” The same Zelensky who met Trump on the White House on Friday, while the two countries were trying to close an agreement that would give Washington access to Kiev’s mineral resources in exchange for investments and what Ukraine expects to be concrete security guarantees. For now, this agreement seems out of question after the fierce confrontation that led the Ukrainians to be invited to leave the White House, accused of being ungrateful for the American military support so far given.
However, Europe tries to advance
Western nations were quick in and their country devastated by war. On Saturday, the Ukrainian President arrived in London, where British Prime Minister Keir Stmerer hugged him in front of the televisions at the scene. This warm reception also extended to a meeting with King Charles III in Sanderingham House.
But it was in one, still in London, that the union between European countries and the alliance with Ukraine were totally evident, with various efforts to pave the way for a ceasefire and to increase continuous military support to Kiev.
Stmerer said at this meeting that Ukraine, like the West, is in a “” and that “this is not a time for more conversations. It’s time to act. ”
Nato chief Mark Rutte said more countries agreed to increase defense spending, and European Commission chairman Ursula von der Leyen stated that it was vital for Europe to “have” and to do so would present a plan later this week.
New plan to end the fighting
During the meeting, both France and Britain proposed an alternative peace agreement for Ukraine, which would involve a one-month limited ceasefire, the French President Emmanuel Macron told the newspaper.
Countries would come into a “disposed coalition” to defend an agreement and guarantee peace, Starmer attested, and the United Kingdom would support it with “boots on the ground and airplanes in the air.”
But any potential peace plan would have to involve Russia, but Moscow would not dwell on the terms of “no security guarantee,” Stmerer added. Zelensky did not say if he agreed with the proposal and Russia has said he will not accept European troops as peacekeepers. And it is not yet known if this proposal will have strength in the White House, which has been maintaining direct peace negotiations with Moscow, which currently do not include Ukraine or Europe.
American support is still necessary
What was clear at the meeting of European leaders is that US support is still crucial to peace efforts in Ukraine. Stmerer reiterated that any plan would need “strong US support.”
Since his disastrous visit to Washington, Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly expressed his gratitude for US and European military support. “There was no day when we didn’t feel this gratitude,” he admitted to Sunday night’s night speech. Already the day before, Zelensky had seen that his country was ready to sign the rare mineral agreement with the US and called the US “strategic partner,” saying he would not benefit anyone but Russia if US assistance to Ukraine stopped.
A victory for Putin
Putin has kept silent over, although the state press and the Russian authorities reacted with joy. Moscow now predicts that negotiations designed to rebuild the relationship between US and Russia continue in the coming weeks and, although nothing publicly announced, is rumored that a meeting between Trump and Putin will be accelerated.
The first round of extraordinary negotiations between Russia and the US was held in Saudi Arabia last month, leaving Ukraine aside. CNN learned that preparations for a second round are underway and the European weekend meeting is likely to ensure that Ukraine remains blocked.
Trump National Security Counselor Mike Waltz also indicated US support for the new leadership in Ukraine and said CNN’s Dana Bash, which is needed “territorial concessions” in exchange for security guarantees.
Friday’s hard discussion has caused several accusations that the US is aligning with Russia instead of doing so with its allies. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy told CNN that “the White House became a Kremlin arm.”
