Trump criticises 'decaying' European international locations and 'weak' leaders

[ad_1] US President Donald Trump has criticised European leaders as "weak" and recommended the US may cut back assist for Ukraine.

In a wide-ranging interview with Politico, he mentioned "decaying" European international locations had failed to regulate migration or take decisive motion to finish Ukraine's conflict with Russia, accusing them of letting Kyiv struggle "till they drop".

He argued that Russia held the "higher hand" and urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to "play ball" by ceding territory to Moscow.

Within the UK, Downing Avenue rejected Trump's declare that Europe had did not act, citing the UK's management on sanctions and reiterating assist for the US-led peace course of.

Zelensky, writing on X in a while Tuesday, mentioned Ukraine and Europe had been working actively on "all elements of potential steps towards ending the conflict", that the Ukrainian and European components of the plan had been now extra developed and that Kyiv was able to current them to "our companions within the US".

In his interview, Trump claimed ideological divisions now threatened to fracture Washington's alliances.

Requested whether or not leaders he seen as weak may nonetheless be allies, he replied: "It relies upon", including: "I believe they're weak, however I additionally assume that they need to be so politically right. I believe they do not know what to do."

His feedback come a day after European leaders got here collectively in London to debate their continued joint efforts to succeed in a peace cope with Russia.

The talks had been the newest try by Ukraine's European allies to carve out a job within the US-led efforts to finish the conflict, which they worry will undercut the long-term pursuits of the continent in favour of a fast decision.

Requested whether or not Europe may assist finish Russia's conflict with Ukraine, the US president mentioned: "They speak however they do not produce. And the conflict simply retains occurring and on."

Ukraine is getting ready to current a revised peace plan to the White Home, searching for options to any settlement requiring territorial concessions.

Zelensky, who has once more dominated out surrendering land, is urgent European and Nato leaders to assist deter the US from backing a deal that Kyiv fears would go away it uncovered to future assault.

Trump additionally recommended, with out proof, that the Ukrainian president was the principle impediment to peace, claiming Ukrainian negotiators "liked" the US-backed proposal and alleging Zelensky had not but learn it.

Trump's newest public criticism of Europe comes as he appears to extend strain on Zelensky and Kyiv's allies to finish the conflict in Ukraine.

The president's remarks additionally got here after his administration launched its new 33-page Nationwide Safety Technique, which warned of Europe's potential "civilisational erasure" and questioned whether or not some nations may stay dependable allies.

Russia welcomed that technique - which didn't solid Russia as a risk to the US - as "largely constant" with Moscow's imaginative and prescient.

Responding on Tuesday to the technique, German chancellor Friedrich Merz mentioned some components had been believable and a few comprehensible, however different components had been unacceptable from a European standpoint.

He rejected the concept the US wanted to "save democracy" in Europe, saying Europeans may deal with such questions themselves.

The technique additionally adopted comparable rhetoric to Trump's speech to the UN earlier this yr, the place he had harsh criticism for western Europe and its strategy to migration and clear vitality.