Trump criticizes ‘rotten’ European countries and ‘weak’ leaders

US President Donald Trump has criticized European leaders as “weak” and suggested the United States could reduce its support for Ukraine.

in a wide range of Interviewed by Politico magazineHe said “rotten” European countries had failed to control migration or take decisive action to end Ukraine’s war with Russia, and accused them of letting Kiev fight “until they drop”.

European leaders are trying to play a role in U.S.-led efforts to end the war, which they fear will harm the continent’s long-term interests and favor a quick resolution.

In Britain, Downing Street rejected Trump’s claims that Europe had failed to act, saying Britain had played a role in imposing sanctions and supporting the peace process.

Trump continued to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to agree to a deal to end the conflict, urging him to “cooperate” by ceding territory to Moscow. Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Zelensky rules out handing over land, Ukraine is moving Preparing to submit revised peace plan to White House.

Writing in X late on Tuesday, Zelensky said that Ukraine and Europe were actively working on “all components of potential steps to end the war” and that the Ukrainian and European elements of the plan were now more complete and Kyiv was ready to present them to “our partners in the United States.”

Trump claimed in the interview that ideological differences now threaten to undermine alliances in Washington.

Asked whether he thought weak leaders could still be allies, he replied: “It depends,” adding: “I think they are weak, but I also think they want to be so politically correct. I don’t think they know how to do that.”

Trump’s latest public criticism of Europe comes a day after European leaders gather in London discuss their continued joint efforts to stop the fighting in Ukraine.

Asked whether Europe could help end the war, the US president said: “They’re all talk but no action. The war just keeps going.”

Ukraine’s president has pressured European and Nato leaders to help block U.S. support for a deal that Kyiv fears will leave it open to future attacks.

On Sunday, Trump suggested without evidence that Zelensky was a major obstacle to peace. In an interview with Politico, he claimed that Ukrainian negotiators “liked” the U.S.-backed proposal and claimed that Zelensky had not read it.

Trump’s latest public criticism of Europe comes as he hopes to increase pressure on Zelensky and Kyiv’s allies to end the war in Ukraine.

The president’s comments came after his administration released a new 33-page National Security Strategy that warned of the potential “destruction of civilization” in Europe and questioned whether some countries can continue to be reliable allies.

Russia welcomes the strategy – which does not see Russia as a threat to the United States – because it is “fundamentally consistent” with Moscow’s vision.

Responding to the strategy on Tuesday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said some parts were reasonable and some were understandable, but other parts were unacceptable from a European perspective.

He rejected the idea that the United States needed to “save European democracy,” saying Europeans could solve these problems themselves.

The strategy also follows similar wording Trump’s speech at the United Nations earlier this yearwho has been scathing about Western Europe and its approach to immigration and clean energy.