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A top UK official has criticized the United States following a tense meeting between Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Some shit you should know before you read: If you don’t follow us on Instagram (allow us to plug our insta, @realnewsnobullshit), last week’s Oval Office meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky erupted into a heated confrontation, marking a low point in US-Ukraine relations. Tensions flared when Trump bluntly told Zelensky that Ukraine must either strike a deal or risk losing US support entirely. He said, “You’re either going to make a deal, or we’re out. And if we’re out, you’ll fight it out. But you don’t have the cards.” Vice President Vance further escalated the situation, accusing Zelensky of going on “propaganda tours” instead of seriously negotiating peace, which left Zelensky visibly shocked. Zelensky said he was grateful for US support but pushed back on Trump’s ultimatum, stressing that any peace agreement must be “real and just.”
What’s going on now: During an appearance on ABC, the United Kingdom’s ambassador to the US, Peter Mandelson, called for a “very radical reset” in US-Ukraine relations following the breakdown of their negotiations. Mandelson noted that “the reset has to consist of the United States and Ukraine getting back on the same page.”
Mandelson also called for greater European involvement, suggesting that Ukraine commit to a ceasefire in hopes that Russia would follow suit.
More reactions: Other world leaders have expressed their dismay over the confrontational meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy, with many rallying behind the Ukrainian leader. French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed France’s commitment, stating, “It is essential to respect the Ukrainians fighting for their dignity, their independence, for their children, and for the security of Europe.” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen directly praised Zelenskyy, writing on X, “Be strong, be brave, be fearless. You are never alone, dear President Zelenskyy. We will continue working with you for a just and lasting peace.” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock condemned Trump’s treatment of Zelenskyy, calling it a “new era of nefariousness” and vowing that Germany’s support for Ukraine would only grow stronger.
Another view: Despite support among some world leaders, the leaders of Slovakia and Hungary have taken a different stance, calling for a ceasefire and a reassessment of European involvement in the war. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico reiterated that his country would not provide Ukraine with military or financial support, instead urging the European Union to push for an immediate ceasefire—something most EU nations and Zelenskyy himself oppose. Fico also demanded that Ukraine reopen the transit of Russian gas to Europe.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who has long opposed sending military aid to Ukraine and has continued advocating for direct negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow, said that “peace must come through dialogue, not weapons.”
