European leaders back Zelensky as Ukraine-US ties fray over Trump’s Russia sanctions lift
European leaders on Friday rallied around Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky as Kyiv’s ties with US President Donald Trump have nosedived and worries grow that US leader is increasingly siding with Russia. Relations between Kyiv and Washington have soured since last week, when Trump eased sanctions on Russia in exchange for Moscow releasing large amounts of diesel onto global markets. Zelensky…
European leaders gathered at an EU summit in Brussels on Friday to show unwavering support for Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky amidst a strained relationship with the United States under President Donald Trump. Tensions rose after Trump eased sanctions on Russia in exchange for Moscow releasing large amounts of diesel into global markets, prompting Zelensky to order strikes on Russian oil refineries.
The Ukrainian leader’s defiance infuriated Trump, who famously called Ukrainian actions a "disgrace" and suggested Kyiv was raising global energy prices. Ukrainian officials accused the Trump administration of aiding Russia during the rift, a claim denied by US tech billionaire Elon Musk, who said his company, SpaceX, is not responsible for any disruptions to Ukraine’s critical Starlink satellite system used for military communications.
European leaders, including Antonio Costa, Rob Jetten, and Kaja Kallas, emphasized the urgency of bolstering Ukraine’s military capabilities and addressing the country’s dire budgetary situation. They stressed that continuing support for Ukraine is crucial as there are few alternatives to key US satellite capabilities. EU leaders are set to discuss potential funding options, including the use of frozen Russian central bank assets, though progress on this front remains uncertain due to Belgium's opposition.
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