President Trump calls European countries “weak” and “decaying,” urges Ukraine to consider concessions, while Kyiv develops its own peace proposals.
U.S. President Donald Trump has sharply criticized European leaders, calling them “weak” and suggesting that Washington could reduce support for Ukraine as the war with Russia continues.
In an interview with Politico, Trump said he believes many European nations have failed to manage migration effectively and have not taken decisive action to help end the conflict in Ukraine, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. “They talk but they don’t produce. And the war just keeps going on and on,” he said.
Trump also called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to agree to a U.S.-backed peace plan that includes territorial concessions to Moscow. He claimed Ukrainian negotiators “loved” the proposal, adding that Zelensky had not yet reviewed it. Trump has repeatedly urged Kyiv to hold elections and alleged the country is using the ongoing conflict as a justification for delays, though Zelensky responded that Ukraine is “ready for elections” within 60 to 90 days if security is ensured with allied support.
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European leaders, including U.K. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, pushed back on Trump’s characterization. Cooper praised Europe’s investments in defense and support for Kyiv, emphasizing that European and Ukrainian leaders are working toward peace, while Russian President Vladimir Putin continues attacks. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also rejected the suggestion that the U.S. must “save democracy” in Europe, noting that Europeans are capable of addressing such issues independently.
Trump’s comments follow the release of a new 33-page U.S. National Security Strategy, which warns of Europe’s potential “civilizational erasure” and questions whether some nations can remain reliable allies. Russia welcomed the strategy, saying it aligned with Moscow’s perspective, as it does not list Russia as a U.S. threat.
The President singled out Hungary and Poland for managing migration effectively but said most European countries are “decaying” and warned they could become nonviable if current policies continue. Trump suggested ideological divisions in Washington are also straining alliances with Europe.
The remarks come a day after European leaders met in London to discuss continued efforts to end the war in Ukraine. U.S. officials have separately engaged Ukrainian and Russian representatives to broker peace, but no agreement has yet been reached.
Africa Daily News, New York
