It was an unprecedented weekend in global politics, as a transatlantic rift between Europe and the USA seemed to be further exposed, after European leaders gathered in London on Sunday, 2 March to declare their unwavering support for Ukraine.
At the summit of 18 European leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a four-point plan, a “coalition of the willing”, to work with Ukraine to end the war and defend the country from Russia.
Part of the plan is to keep military aid flowing into Ukraine, while ensuring that any peace talks must ensure Ukraine’s sovereignty and security.
Crucially, Starmer said Moscow must not be allowed to dictate the terms of any peace deal.
Starmer declared “we are at a crossroads in history today”, as just two days before the summit, the world was shocked by what appeared to be a complete collapse of diplomacy in the White House.
Zelensky’s visit to the White House on Friday started cordially enough, but as soon as Vice-President JV Vance opened his mouth, talking about how diplomacy is needed with Russia and Vladimir Putin, Zelensky came to his country’s defence.
The Ukrainian President was then accused of not being grateful for US support, and it appeared at the end as though Vance and Trump wanted him to grovel.
Zelensky at one point warned that the USA would soon feel Russian aggression, to which Trump lost it and started shouting at his Ukrainian counterpart. It was a shocking display, in which Trump even accused Zelensky of playing with World War III.
The exchange has left the world bewildered, and has been widely condemned.
Zelensky left the Oval Office without signing a deal that would give America access to Ukraine’s mineral resources.
READ: The full transcript of Zelensky’s interaction with Trump and Vance in the Oval Office
Trump has completely upended his country’s decades-long position on Russia. At one point he even falsely accused Ukraine of starting the war, and branding Zelensky a dictator.
Earlier in February, US and Russian officials gathered in Saudi Arabia to discuss ending the Ukraine war, without inviting Kyiv.
Historians say what Trump is effectively signaling is that he’s no longer interested in hearing from European allies, and that he’s aligning with a power that is a daily threat to Europe.
Europe now faces existential questions about its security future, as it rallies support for Ukraine.
