“Brink of Chaos: Europe’s Tense Reaction as Trump Warns Zelenskyy of a Potential WW3 Gamble”

In the aftermath of the recent tête-à-tête between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump in the White House, global leaders have been quick to chime in on this politically charged exchange. I mean, who doesn’t love a juicy spat played out on the international stage, right? As Russian figures savored the drama like popcorn in a movie theater, they surely weren’t alone in wondering how the rest of Europe would react to this diplomatic spectacle. With Trump ominously warning Zelenskyy about “gambling with World War III,” you might be thinking: is this a reality show or a real-life political flashpoint? Well, it seems that the majority of European nations are rallying in support of Zelenskyy, throwing their backing behind him in a united front. Let’s dive in and explore how different leaders responded to this powerful showdown that has inevitably shaped perceptions around geopolitical alliances. It’s a slippery slope, folks, and the stakes are high! LEARN MORE.

In the wake of Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump’s spat in the White House, world leaders have been sharing their thoughts on the explosive argument.

Inevitably, Russian figures were rubbing their hands together following the fiery exchange last Friday (28 February) – but what has the rest of Europe had to say about it?

Every country on the planet now has skin in this game, as Trump notably warned the Ukrainian president that he is ‘gambling with World War III‘.

His stark warning has rattled quite a lot of people, but Europe – well, the majority of it – has put on a united front and leaders have thrown their weight behind Zelenskyy.

The 47-year-old was inundated with messages of support from various heads of state, and he made a point of replying to them all with the same five words.

So, let’s take a look at who else promised to stand in solidarity with Zelenskyy, despite Trump warning him that the US is ‘out’ if he doesn’t make a peace deal with Vladimir Putin.

UK

Starmer stood firmly with Ukraine (Peter Nicholls/Getty Images)

A lot of Brits were left wondering where the UK stands following the shocking outcome of Trump and Zelenskyy’s sit down in the Oval Office.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer broke his silence on the row on Sunday (2 March), saying that it made him feel ‘uncomfortable’ but insisting that Trump ‘does want a lasting peace’.

During an appearance on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, he said: “Nobody wants to see that. Clearly, you know, there’s a lot of tension. The cameras were on.

“We have to bridge this. We have to find a way that we can all work together. Because, in the end, we’ve had three years of bloody conflict. Now we need to get to that lasting peace.”

Starmer explained that it has now been agreed that the UK, France ‘and possibly one or two others’ will now work with Ukraine ‘on a plan to stop the fighting’, which will then be ‘discussed’ with the US.

France

France vowed to continue supporting the Ukrainian President (Daniel Pier/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

French President Emmanuel Macron, who also sat down with the US president last week, pledged his support for Ukraine in a social media post.

On Friday, he wrote on Twitter: “There is an aggressor: Russia. There is a victim: Ukraine.

“We were right to help Ukraine and sanction Russia three years ago – and to keep doing so. By ‘we’, I mean the Americans, the Europeans, the Canadians, the Japanese, and many others.

“Thank you to all who have helped and continue to do so. And respect to those who have been fighting since the beginning – because they are fighting for their dignity, their independence, their children, and the security of Europe.”

Macron later shared a snap from the summit of European leaders in London last weekend, saying: “We are all determined to take action for a strong and lasting peace in Ukraine and to ensure our collective security.”

Netherlands

Schoof called for ‘lasting peace’ and stressed the importance of a ‘united Europe’ (LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Images)

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof shared a tweet saying the Netherlands supports Ukraine ‘now more than ever’ and ‘as firmly as ever’ in wake of Trump and Zelenskyy’s clash.

“We want a lasting peace and an end to the war of aggression started by Russia,” the 67-year-old said. “For Ukraine and its people, and for Europe.”

In another post shared on Sunday (2 March), he explained that it is ‘in the interests of all of Europe’ that Zelenskyy’s country – which he again offered ‘unwavering support’ for – becomes safe and secure.

Schoof continued: “That’s why a united Europe is now more important than ever. We have to play a bigger role in safeguarding the security of our continent.

“Close transatlantic relations are also essential in this respect.”

Germany

The Germany Chancellor offered his country’s ‘unwavering support’ to Zelenskyy (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Germany’s outgoing Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, also shared his support for Ukraine, saying that ‘no one wants peace more than the citizens’.

In a social media post shared following the UK summit, he said: “The path to peace is that Russia ends the war. Ukrainians can rely on our unwavering support.

“They must be able to defend their country – with a strong Ukrainian army and a security architecture that works. Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.”

Friedrich Merz, who is set to be Scholz successor, also hit out at Russia – while taking aim at Trump, too.

At a press conference in the Hamburg on Monday (3 March), according to ABC, Merz said: “It was not a spontaneous reaction to interventions by Zelenskyy, but obviously a manufactured escalation in this meeting in the Oval Office.”

Germany’s foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said the ‘unspeakable’ spat between Trump and Ukraine’s leader was like a ‘bad dream’, which ‘underlined that a new age of infamy has begun’.

Spain

Spain ‘stands with’ Ukraine, PM Pedro Sanchez said (Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)

Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez simply said: “Ukraine, Spain stands with you,” in a social media post following the contentious meeting.

He also emphasised the importance of a united Europe on Sunday at a socialist party event shortly before heading to London for the summit, Yahoo News reports.

The publication claimed that he said he believes ‘relations between countries should be alliances and not vassalage’ in this day and age.

Sanchez reportedly went on to say that standing up for ‘more Europe’ is not a gimmick, but an essential – even going as far to describe it as a ‘life insurance’.

While meeting Zelenskyy in Ukraine last month, the PM vowed to ‘continue to support Ukraine for as long as necessary’ and said Spain will work ‘side by side’ with Ukraine to rebuild the country.

Italy

Italy’s Prime Minister took a different approach to the majority of her European counterparts (ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images)

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni didn’t take the same approach as most of her European counterparts, as she instead urged Zelenskyy to sort things out with Trump.

She warned that any fractures in relationships among Western countries ‘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,” Meloni said. “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.”

Hungary

Orban praised Trump for standing ‘bravely for peace’ (Vitalii Nosach/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

Viktor Orban, Hungary’s Prime Minister, also didn’t follow suit with the rest of Europe, as he made it clear he’s taking Trump’s side on this one.

In a post on X, the 61-year-old lawyer and politician wrote: “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!”

Orban then shared a tweet following the summit in London, criticising European leaders for deciding ‘that they want to go on with the war instead of opting for peace’.

“They decided that Ukraine must continue the war,” he said. “This is bad, dangerous and mistaken. Hungary remains on the side of peace.”