Europe Stands Its Ground – While Trump criticized Zelensky and threatened to cut U.S. support, European leaders reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to Ukraine, with France, Germany, and the UK emphasizing long-term assistance.
BY PC Bureau
After a tense and highly publicized clash with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky received a warm welcome in London. Cheered by crowds and embraced by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Zelensky secured a major boost for Ukraine—a $2.6 billion loan from the United Kingdom to support its war effort against Russia.
The loan, announced on Saturday, follows an intense Oval Office meeting where Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance accused Zelensky of being ungrateful for U.S. aid. Trump later took to Truth Social, claiming Zelensky “is not ready for peace if America is involved.” The White House confrontation left the world questioning Ukraine’s ability to sustain its defenses, but the UK’s swift financial backing reaffirmed Europe’s commitment to Kyiv.
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Thanking Britain for its support, Zelensky stated, “This loan will enhance Ukraine’s defense capabilities and will be repaid using revenues from frozen Russian assets. The funds will be directed toward weapons production in Ukraine.”
He added, “This is true justice—the one who started the war must be the one to pay.”
UK PM walks Zelensky to his car, waits and waves as he departs
Ukraine gets £2.6 BILLION in loans https://t.co/iHhYI2S7DR pic.twitter.com/CpUPcZgjOg
— RT (@RT_com) March 1, 2025
The loan will be financed through the G7 Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration for Ukraine (ERA), a $50 billion fund. Under this mechanism, Ukraine has already received $1 billion from the U.S. and Europe, along with $3 billion from the European Union, according to Ukraine’s Ministry of Finance.
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Ukraine’s Finance Minister, Sergii Marchenko, expressed gratitude for the UK’s unwavering support. “The United Kingdom continues to stand in defense of Ukraine. Today’s agreement strengthens Ukraine’s defense capabilities. I am grateful to the UK Government and personally to Rachel Reeves for her efforts in making this possible,” he said.
A Stark Contrast in Diplomacy
Zelensky’s meeting with Starmer was markedly different from his tense encounter with Trump. Starmer welcomed him to Downing Street with an embrace, reinforcing Britain’s solidarity with Ukraine.
“I hope you heard the cheering in the streets,” Starmer told Zelensky. “That is the people of the United Kingdom showing their unwavering support for you. We stand with you and Ukraine for as long as it takes.”
European leaders were quick to show their support for Ukraine following Zelensky’s tense White House meeting. French President Emmanuel Macron, who met with Trump earlier in the week, reaffirmed France’s commitment to Ukraine, stating, “Europe will not waver in its support for Ukraine. This is not just about one country’s security, but the stability of our entire continent.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also weighed in, emphasizing that Europe would not follow Washington’s shifting stance. “Ukraine can count on Germany and the European Union. Our support is steadfast, regardless of changes in U.S. policy,” he declared.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed these sentiments, warning that any wavering in Western support could embolden Russia. “We must not allow hesitation to dictate our response. Ukraine’s fight is our fight,” she said.
Strengthening Ties with the UK
As part of his UK visit, Zelensky is set to meet King Charles at Sandringham on Sunday before attending a European leaders’ summit to discuss a peace plan for Ukraine.
Meanwhile, during his own visit to the White House, Starmer presented Trump with a formal invitation from King Charles for a state visit—an unprecedented move that would make Trump the first elected political leader to receive two state visits from a British monarch.
With Europe doubling down on its support for Ukraine, the divide between Washington and its traditional allies is becoming increasingly apparent.
