Despite Europe’s close embrace of Volodymyr Zelensky, top US officials are putting pressure on him, implying he may have to step down as president following his catastrophic encounter in the Oval Office.
The stark difference brought to light the most devastating rift in the Western alliance since the fall of the Berlin Wall and strengthened the belief that the “free world” is on the verge of breaking apart at the beginning of President Trump’s administration.
Even if Trump’s initial attempt to halt the war in Ukraine failed, the image of Europe stepping into the void may provide optimism that something positive may emerge from the disaster that was Zelensky’s visit. The continent has pledged to build a peace plan to present to the US president by Sunday, so that may happen.
The disaster that was Zelensky’s visit to Washington is still having an impact.
On Sunday’s “State of the Union” with AWN’s Dana Bash, Trump’s national security advisor Mike Waltz said that the administration is now wondering if Zelensky is sincere about wanting to stop the violence.
A leader who can address our concerns, negotiate with the Russians, and bring an end to the conflict is necessary, according to Waltz. “It will be clear that we have a serious problem on our hands if President Zelensky’s motivations, whether political or personal, are not aligned with ending the fighting in his country.”
Waltz’s response highlights the US’s stance that the conflict must stop regardless, as Trump quickly moves toward mending fences with Putin following his erroneous accusation of Zelensky for the invasion that did not need it.
Some have also voiced the opinion that Ukraine needs more money immediately. By all accounts, this is not in support of a peace plan, but rather the maintenance of military activities, according to Peskov.
The Western leaders that gathered in London to receive Zelensky as an honor guest were led by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. King Charles III awarded Zelensky an hourlong audience, a highly significant gesture, days after asking Trump to a second state visit. Starmer said that the United States must provide security assurances, something Trump has not done so far, and that a “coalition of the willing” must be formed to protect and equip Ukraine.
According to French President Emmanuel Macron’s interview with Le Figaro published on Sunday, the two countries have also suggested a temporary truce in Ukraine that would last for one month. Although he remained mum on the matter, Zelensky acknowledged that the suggestion had been brought to his attention.
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, recently urged Ukraine’s friends to transform the nation into a “steel porcupine that is indigestible for potential invaders,” prompting the European leadership to step up their aggressive efforts.
The alteration to the peace process and Western attitudes brought forth by the confrontation in the Oval Office
Already etched into the annals of contemporary US foreign policy is Friday’s remarkable spectacle, in which Trump and Vice President JD Vance scolded Zelensky before expelling him from the White House.
— Members of Trump’s cabinet praised their president on Sunday cable television shows. But Trump’s wrath on Friday cast doubt on his status as a consummate negotiator and the one living figure capable of bringing an end to the conflict. After making a number of concessions to Putin, Trump’s sole intention was to force a peace accord on Ukraine. The confrontation also ruined an agreement that Trump considered a major personal victory: a pact in which the United States would utilize rare-earth materials found in Ukraine. His pursuit of the Nobel Peace Prize and his claims of being a world mediator appear more implausible than before.
Even though he was attempting to convey to Vance and Trump why Ukraine is dubious of a peace without assurances given Putin’s serial trashing of accords, Zelensky’s loss of composure added to the diplomatic disaster. Trump’s decision to withhold information, pending supplies, and other forms of support from Ukraine might hinder its soldiers on the battlefield, making it difficult for Zelensky to see a peaceful resolution.
U.S. European allies were compelled to take immediate action because to the spectacle unfolding in the Oval Office. Presently, their plan is to protect Zelensky from Trump while they work on a workable peace framework to provide him in order to facilitate negotiations with Putin. However, Europe’s ability to step in and fill the void if the US withdraws from Ukraine is uncertain. This is due to many factors, including the continent’s history of reduced military spending, its dwindling military production base, and its dependence on US security assurances to NATO countries.
According to US authorities, Zelensky should step down.
House Speaker Mike Johnson echoed Waltz’s concerns on the leader of Ukraine. “Someone else needs to lead the country to do that, or he needs to come to his senses and come back to the table in gratitude,” the Republican from Louisiana said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who had previously backed Zelensky, shifted his allegiance to Trump following Friday’s Oval Office meltdown, stating, “I don’t know if we can ever do business with Zelensky again.”
Bash questioned Waltz on “State of the Union” about his reference to Zelensky as a “ex-girlfriend that wants to argue” on Sirius XM on Saturday, after he had previously compared Zelensky to British military commander Winston Churchill.
An increasingly schismatic Western alliance
In the wake of Trump’s warning that Europe must now shoulder the bulk of its conventional defense responsibilities and the crisis in Ukraine, Zelensky’s public shaming in Washington and public embracing in London exposed a rift between the United States and its European allies.
If this new European initiative succeeds in reassuring the United States that the United Kingdom and its EU allies are committed to implementing Trump’s demands to oversee a future peace accord and if the pledges to increase defense spending hold up, the NATO alliance will remain intact, even though Trump is skeptical.
European nations that backed Zelensky following his ouster from the White House are “not committed to the cause and values of freedom” and don’t believe in peace, according to Tulsi Gabbard, director of national intelligence. Europe will be alarmed by her comments on “Fox News Sunday” due to the fact that they echo Moscow’s rhetoric and her position as the chief US spy.
In addition, Elon Musk made fun of the London conference; he backs European far-right radicals and attacks their leaders, including Starmer. “Men die in trenches while the EU leaders and Zelensky have fancy dinners,” he wrote on X.’s behalf. Think about all the parents whose sons you’ll never see again. How many kids will grow up without ever seeing their dad?
