After a tense meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, publicly expressed gratitude to 31 world leaders for their support. The meeting in the U.S. on Friday was anticipated to solidify U.S.-Ukraine relations, but it resulted in diplomatic fallout instead. Trump allegedly criticized Zelensky's approach to seeking aid.
Following the meeting, European leaders voiced their support for Ukraine, issuing statements affirming their commitment to Kyiv. In direct response to Vice President J.D. Vance's criticism, Zelensky personally thanked every leader who stood by Ukraine on social media.
Zelensky's social media timeline on Platform X was filled with messages of support from European allies and countries worldwide. In response to all this support, he wrote, "Thank you for your support."
Which countries showed support for Ukraine?
Nations including Slovenia, Belgium, Ireland, Austria, Canada, Romania, Croatia, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, the Netherlands, France, Luxembourg, Portugal, Sweden, Germany, Norway, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Moldova, Spain, Poland, the UK, and the EU on social media.
French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on social media, "Respect to those who have been fighting from the very beginning. They fight for their dignity, their freedom, for their children, and the security of Europe."
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk was among the first to show support for Zelensky and Ukraine, telling them, "You are not alone."
Earlier, Trump had accused Zelensky of disrespecting the United States. The two leaders were expected to reach an agreement on exploiting Ukraine's mineral resources, but Zelensky left the White House without signing any deal. Trump also stated that Zelensky was not ready for peace.
'I Respect the President but Won't Apologize'
When asked if he would apologize to President Trump, he replied, 'No, I respect the President. I also respect the American people. I don't think we've done anything wrong.'
Regarding the growing closeness between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Zelensky remarked, 'I want him (Trump) to be in the middle. I also want him to be on our side.' Can their relationship with Trump improve after Friday's heated debate? Zelensky replied, 'Yes, absolutely.'
