The US Commander in Chief has continued to rage against Europe in his latest interview, this time targeting nuclear leaders Sir Keir and President Emmanuel Macron
Donald Trump has has dialled up his row with Europe over Ukraine by issuing scathing critiques of Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron – a matter of days before they are due to meet in person.
The US President – now one month into his second term – has courted controversy in recent weeks over his handling of peace talks with European leaders over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He notably parroted several of Vladimir Putin’s positions last week, insisting Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky was a “dictator without elections” and that Ukraine started the conflict.
His criticism has now landed on Europe’s two nuclear powers, Britain and France. Mr Trump shared withering criticism for Sir Keir and President Macron while continuing to rage against his new rival in Ukraine – although he also shared some surprising kind words for the two leaders.
In a three-word statement during an interview with Fox News last week, the Presidents suggested the national leaders – who have consistently backed Ukraine’s defence against Russia – “haven’t done anything” to end the war. Both leaders are due to meet with Mr Trump in person next week as they make Europe’s case for backing Ukraine to the hilt, and try to salvage some US military assistance.
But Mr Trump appears to have fully turned on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who he said in the same interview had “no cards” in peace negotiations. He stunningly claimed that he didn’t think the premier was “very important to be in meetings”. The President has been engaged in a war of words with Mr Zelensky since last week, when, following concerns voiced by the Ukrainian premier about the President being “living in a disinformation space” Mr Trump suggested he was a “dictator”.
He added in a post on his social media platform Truth Social that Mr Zelensky “was really good at was playing Joe Biden like a fiddle”, and suggested Ukrainian war funds had “gone missing” without providing evidence. While the rift appears only set to deepen between the US and Ukraine, Mr Trump has signalled that he is willing to keep France and the UK onside.
After suggesting they hadn’t “done anything” to promote peace, the Commander in Chief called Mr Macron a “friend”, and Sir Keir a “very nice guy”. The French President is expected to visit Washington next Monday, February 24, while Sir Keir will arrive for his own meet on Thursday, February 27.