European leaders throw support behind Zelenskyy after heated Trump meeting
European leaders throw support behind Zelenskyy after heated Trump meeting
The EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said ‘the free world needs a new leader’ and that it was up to Europeans to take this challenge
The EU foreign policy chief has declared that “the free world needs a new leader”, as European leaders threw their support behind Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, after the stunning White House confrontation between him and Donald Trump.
Leaders from across Europe expressed their solidarity with the Ukrainian leader after the fractious exchange with JD Vance, the US vice-president, and Trump, who claimed he was not “ready for peace” and accused him of “gambling with world war three”.
Although in general, the European leaders did not name the US president, their comments late on Friday laid bare the gaping rift between the US and its traditional allies in Europe over the war in Ukraine.
In a social media post, Kaja Kallas, the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, wrote: “Ukraine is Europe! We stand by Ukraine. We will step up our support to Ukraine so that they can continue to fight back the aggressor.
“Today, it became clear that the free world needs a new leader. It’s up to us, Europeans, to take this challenge.”
I really hope that Europe finally decides to materially support Ukraine.
For the duration of the invasion Europe has flatly refused to make long term contracts for the order of artillery shells. They are more than willing to send what extra they have but they have not committed to the massive increase in manufacturing that is required for Ukraine to win . I was shocked when Germany announced massive automotive layoffs without government intervention to switch to war production for Ukraine.
So many of Europes challenges are related to the invasion of Ukraine yet they are not acting as if they are actively engaged in war or like they will be soon.
I have been absolutely puzzled for years why there hasn’t been a rush to create defense production capacity in a meaningful way. They only conclusion I came to is that Europe except -Poland-, isn’t really concerned about the outcome of the Russian invasion.
Poland is acting like this is a big deal.
Every other major nation seems to be waiting until they can get back to business as usual. Let’s see if this shocks them into actions they needed to take years ago.
The contracts need to be written, so the buildings can be built, so the machines can be put into them, so the workers can be hired , so the production can begin. It takes years.
No matter how this shakes. The damage is done. No matter what happens going forward nobody can or should trust the US to be a reliable partner in any way. Not economically or militarily because we're psychotic. Nationally bipolar. You might get a stable trustworthy partner in one election only to get an insane wannabe dictator in 4 years time who flips the table and burns all the bridges. You can't trust us with anything on a longer timeline than 2-4 years. And that is the surest path to international irrelevancy.
This will be "The Moment" spoken about in history books where US Hegemony collapsed. Count on it. Because no matter what happens. This is the new paradigm. We cannot be trusted.
Lots of other countries have democracy like the us but it's the huge difference between your political parties as well as social media making the rift bigger each election cycle. I think once you guys get rid of the social media, you guys can come back.
In a way jt is fascinating to watch the US goverment dismantle their empire on fast forward. With this single "conversation" they undermined every security deal they had anywhere in the world.
Wonder if some hardliners from CIA or such will decide to sort out this threat to their power, or will they just accept going down.
With this single "conversation" they undermined every security deal they had anywhere in the world.
I disagree. If it was a single conversation the world would be shocked but they could still cover it up. Politicians say dumb shit and walk it back all the time.
It's the fact that his first term was already such a blundering mess in terms of diplomacy, combined with the fact that he somehow got re-elected, the accelerating bullshit ever since and now finally this mess. If they hadn't been chipping away at any international goodwill so thoroughly, the response would be closer to "I can't believe a US president would say that" rather than "the US as a whole is no longer reliable".
This isn’t about supporting Europe or NATO or Ukraine. This is about not capitulating to a hostile dictatorship that likes to invade other people‘s territories without provocation. 
Exactly. How much of your country and resources will you be willing to give up when Russia and their useful idiot comes knocking? If the answer isn't everything, you should probably help Ukraine make a stand now before the "peace deal" results in loosened sanctions and before Russia starts to re-arm.
Zelensky know its a bad deal, no concessions on Putin's part, and also he's not physically there, sent his golden retriever so his bidding
It's always the same thing, a state that used to work "together" with russia no longer want's to be a slave to russia and work with other countries.
Russia doesn't want that, so they attack.
It happened to Georgia before it happened to Ukraine.
Trump just proved that he isn't even capable of running a meeting, much less a country.
Even if we ignore everything else about Trump, scandals, history, etc. that meeting alone showed he is incapable of meeting the requirements of the office.
symptoms of alzheimer should be showing up soon like his father.
This is what REAL strength looks like...not the pseudo-macho bullshit that Trump and Vance just tried to pull.
More than weakness, it stinks of incompetence. Vance was obviously there to start a fight to make Zelensky look bad so they could leverage him.
Except they were so obvious about it that he came off as the winner. They cannot even set a proper trap (thank God).
I've been trying to think what the Trump / Vance plan was. Like you said, it was obvious that Vance was there to pick a fight. But I couldn't tell if they were legitimately trying to blow up diplomatic relations like they did, or if they thought they were going to get the upper hand in exploring Ukraine for their natural resources.
Either way, it was disgusting to watch.
Do these imbeciles realize that they are making America look the weakest it’s ever been? No they don’t because they’re a bunch of dumbasses.
Hungary's Orban stands alone with Trump, as Europe unites behind Ukraine.
🐱🐱🐱🐱
We should really form Europe 2, with every member except Hungary.
If anyone wants to show their feelings this is a great time to donate to Zelensky's fund to help Ukraine.
I hope it blows up and next time he's at the white house Zelensky can use his time in front of the media to thank us for donating huge amounts... biggest donations ever seen... Lol
How do I know that is an official or direct donation
that site sits on .gov.ua, this is for various official things for government of Ukraine
like with any other country that has such presence
I was skeptical too so I looked it up, it's real: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United24
Because Luke Skywalker said it's legit? https://youtu.be/jDEqM3-hQuQ
Yeah sorry I should have mentioned I have no idea, no involvement, I just saw someone else mention it and I'd donated myself. I got a nice email after I donated 'from Zelensky'.
Guess what he said?
Thank you! Lol
https://sign.moveon.org/petitions/to-president-zelenskyy-from-embarrassed-americans
Also an apology letter you can sign if you want
Also worth noting, a lot of public radio stations / NPR affiliates are doing their winter public pledge drives right now, and money will help them fund off defunding and legal attacks from the Trump administration.
If you like what little good journalism we have left in America. Donate.
Just donated!
Do you know if they still support BTC donations? There were tweets about it a couple years ago but nothing on the main site says they do.
Sorry I've no idea. I saw someone mentioned it and I had a look and donated. It occurred to me that others might feel the same so I tried to share it. I've got nothing to do with it other than that... Maybe I should've mentioned that!
‘Merican here. Sorry EU. But you’re gonna have to take the lead here, I think. And I’m glad you are.
European here. Sorry America, but you're going to have to step up and remove your corrupt leaders I think. And I'll be happy when you do.
I'm getting a bit pissed off with this type of message.
- We already have been leading. Funds and weapons have been relatively free flowing from European nations. Getting anything out of the US has been like pulling teeth even under Biden.
- We know a shit ton of burden has fallen on us because a nation we considered a friend has turned traitor. You're not telling us anything new.
- As a US citizen you can't wash your hands of the fact that your leadership is corrupt. "Oh, sorry!". They're your collective responsibility. You all put them there. Only you can replace them. Get off your arse and organise.
"Sorry Russia, you're going to have to step up and remove your corrupt leaders and I'll be happy when you do"
Fucking how? Organize? Organize what, a fucking civil war? Sorry you're a "bit pissed" that 70% of Americans have to live under a captured techno-fascist state they didn't vote for.
You really don't understand how America works if you think we can hold some magical snap election or wave our pea-shooter 2nd amendment shotguns in the face of the largest and most advanced military in the world...
This doesn't get solved without major moves by internal government factions or foreign intervention, no matter how warm and fuzzy videos of a big protest will make you feel.
I do hope that Trump is the galvanizing force that pushes the people of the EU (and perhaps others) towards Ukraine support, as well as everything else Trump and the right hate. The far right is gaining too much support, but if your average right leaning or moderate EU citizen sees just how bad it's working out for the US, it might chill that movement a bit. At least, I hope so.
I don't think the right-leaning EU citizens recognise this as a problem with the right. It's too easy to say this is "an America specific problem" and "We'd never vote in a dumbass such as Trump."
I honestly think this kind of learning will happen here absolutely not at all.
I do hope that Trump is the galvanizing force that pushes the people of the EU (and perhaps others) towards Ukraine support, as well as everything else Trump and the right hate
Why do you think that the EU and others haven't been supporting Ukraine? They have.
"Its a nation of tiny trumps, that would fuck their own mothers if it got a rich man's grin." I believe I read on reddit.
Wouldn't "mount support" instead of "throw" have been a better choice of words? Writing style aside, I hope Europe gets together and pushes the Ruzzians out of Ukraine.
To "throw support behind" is a common expression. It implies vigour in a way that "mount support" does not, so I think it's a good word choice.
I'm hoping Ukr gets an EU membership out of this at the minimum. They're going to be blocked from NATO by US and Turkeye
That's crazy. So americans are full on terrorists now? They should be put on a flight risk list so no one has to deal with them except themselves
That'll trap vulnerable people in the States, potentially to be lynched. Much as I would love to support a blanket, don't allow crazy out of crazytown, there's sane people trapped there that should be allowed to flee.
These Americans can't use their 2nd ammendment rights to defend themselves and suddenly that's now other countries problem? No thank you, let Americans clean up their own mess. They can either work on their own country or apply for asylum like every other refugee, so long as they're triaged long after the countless millions of refugees already displaced by Americans, or the ones culturally developed enough to have already moved out to Europe and contributed to our society can stay but the ones who fuck up their country and bail? Fuck off. No matter, most Americans don't even have a passport anyway (their object permanence only extends from LA to Boston.)
It certainly was a kick to the European diplomatic nuts and removed any doubt if reasonable negotiation is possible. Niet l now it's clear on what they're dealing with for the war, NATO and trade.
Well, yeah, but that happened back in the '60s with Vietnam. What we're seeing here isn't America becoming the villain, it's America becoming the kind of incompetent villain that even their minions turn on.
Are they going to send European weapons, or will they buy American weapons and send them to Ukraine?
Each will send their old or excess stock, or newly manufacturer weapons.
Some of the old stock may include weapons bought from the US previously, but it's very unlikely Europeans will be buying new weapons and supplies from US to give to Ukraine. France, Germany Italy, Spain and the UK all have significant arms manufacturing ability and have ability to scale up quickly. (Reference)
Many European leaders (including business leaders) are extremely reticent to enter into new supply deals of any kind with the US given the recent trade volatility.
The only reason Europe refrained from being a weapons powerhouse was part of our ally with America after WW2 was that they would do it and profit. Now Europe can be like "🤷 Oh well, guess we'll be the MIC now" and shady weapons dealers will be like "Sorry America, better business elsewhere where they don't skimp on materials and safety inspection." Also people don't remember just how much more dependent America is on the rest of the world than anyone is dependent on America. Putin is glad not because he's gonna win Ukraine, but he managed to hop over Europe entirely and headshot America successfully. I think Putin could die happy of his mysterious health problems knowing he successfully carried Russia to victory vs the USA.
