The inconclusive summit between Trump and Putin has sparked dismay among European politicians, with only Hungarian President Viktor Orban asserting that the major powers of the US and Russia are heading in the right direction, reports 24brussels.
Reactions primarily came from Eastern European nations advocating for a robust Western response to Putin’s aggression.
Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky expressed support for Trump’s peace initiatives but cautioned against Kremlin propaganda. He stated, “The problem is Russian imperialism, not Ukraine’s desire to live freely. … If Putin were serious about peace talks, he would not have been attacking Ukraine all day today,” via his post on X.
Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovilė Šakalienė condemned Putin’s comments, which urged Ukraine and the EU not to “sabotage” the discussions, calling them “more gaslighting and veiled threats.” She added that it is ironic for a “war criminal with a history of poisoning his critics” to make such statements.
In stark contrast, Orban expressed optimism about the summit, claiming, “For years, we have watched the two biggest nuclear powers dismantle the framework of their cooperation and shoot unfriendly messages back and forth. That has now come to an end. Today the world is a safer place than it was yesterday,” on X.
‘Bitterly angry burlesque’
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Chair of the Committee on Security and Defence at the European Parliament, described the summit as a “bitterly angry burlesque,” in an interview with the German media outlet WELT.
She criticized Trump for having “completely lost his moral compass,” asserting that the only outcome of the summit was Putin being welcomed back into the international community.
Strack-Zimmermann urged Europe to unite and maintain support for Ukraine through military aid and economic assistance, advocating for the immediate availability of Russian assets in Europe to Ukraine.
Similarly, former German ambassador to the United States Wolfgang Ischinger remarked that Putin emerged with preferential treatment while Trump gained nothing from the meeting. He lamented, “As was to be feared: no ceasefire, no peace. No real progress – a clear 1-0 for Putin – no new sanctions. For the Ukrainians: nothing. For Europe: deeply disappointing,” on X.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide emphasized that Putin reiterated familiar talking points, highlighting the so-called “root causes” of the war, which have been used to justify Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. He reaffirmed Norway’s commitment to increasing pressure on Russia and warned against any attempts by Putin to sow discord between the EU and the US, asserting that it is vital to listen to Kyiv’s perspective.
(This is a developing story)
