European leaders across much of the continent vowed to stand by Ukraine after a White House meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy turned into a heated exchange Friday, with Trump calling Zelenskyy "disrespectful."
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said it has become clear that "the free world needs a new leader."
"Ukraine is Europe! We stand by Ukraine," Kallas wrote on the social media platform X.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on X, "Ukraine can rely on Germany — and on Europe," while Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wrote on social media, "Ukraine, Spain stands with you."
"Dear @ZelenskyyUa, dear Ukrainian friends, you are not alone," wrote Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on X.
French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters in Portugal, "Russia is the aggressor, and Ukraine is the aggressed people."
Other European leaders, including from Finland, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Norway, also took to social media to voice support for Ukraine.
Not all European leaders backed Ukraine. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has long been critical of EU military aid to Kyiv, posted on X, "President @realDonaldTrump stood bravely for peace. Even if it was difficult for many to digest. Thank you, Mr. President!"
The meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy came as the two countries were seeking a deal that would allow the U.S. access to Ukrainian rare mineral rights. The discussion took a combative tone about 40 minutes into the meeting when Zelenskyy raised Russia's 2014 invasion of Crimea.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance immediately criticized Zelenskyy, accusing him of engaging in a "propaganda tour."
Both Vance and Trump accused the Ukrainian leader of not being thankful for the assistance his country has received from Washington.
After the meeting abruptly ended, the White House confirmed that the mineral deal was not signed.
