March 3 ------ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the American people and leadership and voiced hope for "strong relations," a day after an astonishing Oval Office blowout with U.S. President Donald Trump that left many uncertain where the once staunch allies stood. Zelensky on Saturday arrived in London ahead of a summit organized by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer with other European leaders. The summit will also include leaders from France, Germany, Denmark, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Turkey, Finland, Sweden, Czechia and Romania, as well as the NATO secretary-general and the presidents of the European Commission and European Council.
The meltdown that unfolded Friday in the final minutes of the highly anticipated meeting at the White House between Trump and Zelenskyy seemed to dash, at least for now, Ukrainian hopes that the United States could be locked in as a reliable partner in helping fend off, and conclude, Russia's three-year onslaught.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said he told Zelensky that he had to "find a way to restore his relationship with the American president" after the two leaders engaged in an extraordinary meltdown at the White House on Friday. Rutte told the BBC on Saturday that he told Zelensky that "he really had to respect what President Trump has done so far for Ukraine." He was referring to the first Trump administration's decision in 2019 to supply Ukraine with Javelin antitank missiles that Ukraine used to deadly effect against Russian tanks in the first wave of the 2022 invasion. Calling the Friday meeting between Trump and Zelensky "unfortunate," Rutte said he "knew as a fact that the American administration is extremely invested in making sure that Ukraine gets to a durable peace" with Russia. Rutte said he expected European leaders, who were meeting in London on Sunday, to help secure a future peace deal by providing Ukraine with security guarantees.
French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with President Donald Trump and his Ukraine counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky after their stunning spat in the Oval Office on live television, the French presidency said. Macron had calls with Trump and Zelensky ahead of Sunday's summit in London to discuss Ukraine. He also spoke with British Prime minister Keir Starmer, EU Council president Antonio Costa and NATO secretary general Mark Rutte, the Elysee Palace said. The phone calls were also aimed at preparing a summit of EU leaders next week in Brussels that will also focus on the future of Ukraine. 'We stand with you,' Starmer tells Zelensky.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer embraced President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday and told him he had the nation's unwavering support a day after the blowout at the White House with President Donald Trump. The Ukraine leader arrived in London to shouts of support from people who had gathered outside Starmer's official residence where he was hugged by the British prime minister. "And as you heard from the cheers on the street outside, you have full backing across the United Kingdom," Starmer told him. "We stand with you, with Ukraine, for as long as it may take."
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban says the European Union should follow "the example of the United States" and start "direct discussions with Russia on a ceasefire and sustainable peace in Ukraine."
Slovak populist Prime Minister Robert Fico repeated his country won't provide Ukraine any military or financial support that would help it fight Russia. Fico also demanded that an emergency EU summit in Brussels on Thursday agree to a call for an immediate ceasefire, "which is something that President Zelenskyy and a majority of EU member states refuse to do."
Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson described Friday's Oval Office blowout between Trump and Zelenskyy as a "complete political and diplomatic failure" for Kyiv.
Source: mb.com.ph
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