US President Donald Trump has publicly criticised European leaders, calling them “weak” and suggesting that the United States might reconsider its level of support for Ukraine.
In an extensive interview with Politico, Trump said many European nations have failed to control migration and take decisive steps to end the conflict in Ukraine. He accused them of letting Kyiv continue fighting “until they drop,” while arguing that Russia currently holds the upper hand. The President urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to make territorial concessions to Moscow.
Trump’s comments come amid growing concern over ideological divisions among Washington’s allies, which he claims threaten the cohesion of transatlantic partnerships. When asked if these leaders could still be reliable allies, he said, “It depends… I think they’re weak, but I also think that they want to be so politically correct. I think they don’t know what to do.”
The remarks follow the release of the Trump administration’s new National Security Strategy, a 33-page document warning of potential “civilisational erosion” in Europe and questioning the reliability of some countries as strategic partners. Russia welcomed the strategy, noting it aligns “largely” with Moscow’s perspective.
Officials in the UK dismissed Trump’s assessment, pointing to London’s leadership in sanctions against Russia and continued support for the US-led peace initiatives. Trump’s latest statements echo his earlier critiques at the United Nations, in which he heavily criticised Europe’s approaches to migration and clean energy policies.
This latest round of criticism underscores the ongoing tension over how the West should respond to the Ukraine conflict and the broader geopolitical role of Europe in global security.
