By Reuters
March 1, 2025Ukrainian
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy departs after a press conference with
U.S. President Donald Trump was canceled following their Oval Office
meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 28, 2025.
REUTERS/Nathan Howard TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY Purchase Licensing Rights
March 1 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and U.S. President Donald Trumpclashed at a White House meeting that ended in disaster on Friday, prompting an outpouring of reaction from across the globe.
ZELENSKIY ON X
"Thank
you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit.
Thank you @POTUS, Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just
and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that."
In a social media post on Saturday:
"It
is very important for us that Ukraine is heard and that no one forgets
about it, neither during the war nor after. It is important for people
in Ukraine to know that they are not alone, that their interests are
represented in every country, in every corner of the world."
CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU ON X
"Russia
illegally and unjustifiably invaded Ukraine. For three years now,
Ukrainians have fought with courage and resilience. Their fight for
democracy, freedom, and sovereignty is a fight that matters to us all.
Canada will continue to stand with Ukraine and Ukrainians in achieving a
just and lasting peace."
GERMAN CHANCELLOR OLAF SCHOLZ
"No
one wants peace more than the citizens of Ukraine! That is why we are
jointly seeking the path to a lasting and just peace. Ukraine can rely
on Germany – and on Europe."
FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON TO REPORTERS IN PORTUGAL:
"Russia
is the aggressor, and Ukraine is the aggressed people. I think we were
all right to help Ukraine and sanction Russia three years ago, and to
continue to do so. We, that is the United States of America, the
Europeans, the Canadians, the Japanese and many others. And we must
thank all those who have helped and respect those who have been fighting
since the beginning. Because they are fighting for their dignity, their
independence, their children and the security of Europe. These are
simple things, but they're good to remember at times like these, that's
all.
ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER GIORGIA MELONI
"Every
division of the West makes us all weaker and favours those who would
like to see the decline of our civilisation. Not of its power or
influence, but of the principles that founded it, first and foremost
freedom. A division would not benefit anyone. What is needed is an
immediate summit between the United States, European states and allies
to talk frankly about how we intend to deal with the great challenges of
today, starting with Ukraine, which we have defended together in recent
years, and those that we will be called upon to face in the future.
This is the proposal that Italy intends to make to its partners in the
coming hours."
SPOKESPERSON FOR BRITISH PRIME MINISTER KEIR STARMER
"He
retains his unwavering support for Ukraine and is playing his part to
find a path forward to a lasting peace, based on sovereignty and
security for Ukraine."
AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER ANTHONY ALBANESE
"We
will continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes, because
this is the struggle of a democratic nation versus an authoritarian
regime led by Vladimir Putin, who clearly has imperialistic designs, not
just on Ukraine, but throughout that region."
CANADIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MELANIE JOLY ON X
"Canada remains committed to providing the necessary assistance to ensure Ukraine's security, sovereignty, and resilience."
DENMARK'S FOREIGN MINISTER LARS LOKKE RASMUSSEN ON FACEBOOK
"It's
a punch in the gut for Ukraine. ... There must be room for robust
conversations - even between friends. But when it happens in front of
rolling cameras like that, there is only one winner. And he sits in the
Kremlin."
FORMER RUSSIAN PRESIDENT DMITRY MEDVEDEV, DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF RUSSIA'S SECURITY COUNCIL, ON TELEGRAM
"A brutal dressing down in the Oval Office."
EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT URSULA VON DER LEYEN ON X
"Your dignity honors the bravery of the Ukrainian people. Be strong, be brave, be fearless. You are never alone, dear President.
"We will continue working with you for a just and lasting peace."
MOLDOVAN PRESIDENT MAIA SANDU ON X
"The
truth is simple. Russia invaded Ukraine. Russia is the aggressor.
Ukraine defends its freedom - and ours. We stand with Ukraine."
SPANISH PRIME MINISTER PEDRO SANCHEZ ON X
"Ukraine, Spain stands with you."
HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER VIKTOR ORBAN ON X
"Strong
men make peace, weak men make war. Today President @realDonaldTrump
stood bravely for peace. Even if it was difficult for many to digest.
Thank you, Mr. President!"
NORWEGIAN PRIME MINISTER JONAS GAHR STOERE IN STATEMENT TO TV2
"What
we saw from the White House today is serious and disheartening. Ukraine
still needs the US's support, and Ukraine's security and future are
also important to the US and to Europe. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy
has strong support in Ukraine, broad support in Europe, and he has led
his people through a very demanding and brutal time, under attack from
Russia. That Trump accuses Zelenskiy of gambling with World War III is
deeply unreasonable and a statement I distance myself from. Norway
stands with Ukraine in their struggle for freedom. We hope that the
Trump administration also understands the importance of a just and
lasting peace in Ukraine."
CZECH PRESIDENT PETR PAVEL ON X
"We stand with Ukraine more than ever. Time for Europe to step up its efforts."
DUTCH PRIME MINISTER DICK SCHOOF
"The
Netherlands continues to support Ukraine. Especially now. We want
lasting peace and an end to the war of aggression that Russia has
started. For Ukraine, for all its inhabitants and for Europe."
ESTONIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MARGUS TSAHKNA ON X
"The
only obstacle to peace is (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's decision
to continue his war of aggression. If Russia stops fighting, there will
be no war. If Ukraine stops fighting, there will be no Ukraine.
Estonia's support to Ukraine remains unwavering. Time for Europe to step
up."
POLISH PRIME MINISTER DONALD TUSK ON X
"Dear @ZelenskyyUa, dear Ukrainian friends, you are not alone."
GEORGIAN PRIME MINISTER IRAKLI KOBAKHIDZE
"Yesterday,
once again, a clear line was drawn between the war party and the peace
party. I am referring not so much to the debate between Trump and
Zelenskiy, but to the subsequent reactions to this debate. President
Trump and his peace efforts were condemned one after another by people
responsible for allowing a bloody war and callously sacrificing Ukraine
and the lives of thousands of Ukrainians."
GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER GEORGE GERAPETRITIS
U.S.
support in the conflict in Ukraine is necessary, although Europe still
needs to upgrade its own defence infrastructure, the minister said.
SWISS PRESIDENT KARIN KELLER-SUTTER ON X
"Switzerland
remains firmly committed to supporting a just and lasting peace, while
condemning Russia's aggression against a sovereign state."
JOHANN WADEPHUL, DEPUTY OF CONSERVATIVE PARTY-GROUP IN GERMAN PARLIAMENT, THE PARTY OF INCOMING CHANCELLOR FRIEDRICH MERZ, ON X
"The
scenes from the White House are shocking. How can you stab the
president of an invaded country in the back like this? Free Europe will
not betray Ukraine!"
ITALIAN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER MATTEO SALVINI, LEADER OF THE FAR-RIGHT LEAGUE PARTY ON X
"Aim for PEACE, stop this war! Come on @realDonaldTrump".
Reporting by Kate Entringer, Jason Hovet, Andreas Rinke, Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk, Nerijus Adomaitis, Ron Popeski, Krisztina Than, Ana Cantero Rios; Editing by Howard Goller and Richard Chang