Trump Slams Europe as 'Decaying' Under 'Weak' Leadership
US President Donald Trump has sharply criticised European leaders, labelling them “weak” and suggesting a potential scaling back of American support for Ukraine. The remarks, made in a wide-ranging interview with Politico, have ignited debate about the future of transatlantic relations and the ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe.
According to the report, Trump accused several “decaying” European nations of failing to adequately address migration concerns and of lacking a decisive strategy to end the war in Ukraine, alleging they were allowing Kyiv to fight “until they drop”. He has consistently pushed for a negotiated settlement, urging Ukraine to “play ball” and cede territory to Russia.
These comments come as European leaders attempt to play a more prominent role in US-led efforts to find a resolution to the war, a move they fear could be sidelined in favour of a swift agreement that doesn’t fully account for the continent’s long-term interests.
The UK’s Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, swiftly responded, asserting that she sees “strength” in Europe, citing increased investment in defence and continued financial aid to Ukraine. “Two presidents are working for peace – President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky – and President Putin has so far simply sought to escalate the conflict with further drone and missile attacks,” she stated.
President Zelensky, responding on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, indicated that Ukraine and Europe are actively developing a comprehensive plan to end the war, ready to present it to their US counterparts. This follows a meeting in London where European leaders discussed their joint efforts to halt the fighting.
Trump, however, remained critical, stating, “They talk but they don’t produce. And the war just keeps going on and on.” US officials have been engaged in separate discussions with both Ukrainian and Russian representatives, but a breakthrough remains elusive.
The former US President also suggested, without providing evidence, that Zelensky himself was hindering peace negotiations. He claimed Russian officials were receptive to a US-backed peace proposal involving significant concessions from Ukraine, a proposal allies fear would leave Kyiv vulnerable to future aggression. Trump alleged Ukrainian negotiators “loved” the proposal but that Zelensky hadn’t even read it.
He further called for Ukraine to hold elections, arguing that the ongoing war was being used as a pretext to delay the democratic process. “You know, they talk about a democracy, but it gets to a point where it’s not a democracy anymore,” Trump said. Zelensky, however, responded that he is “ready for the elections” and is exploring legal changes to facilitate them, contingent on security guarantees from the US and allies.
Trump also warned that ideological divisions are straining alliances between Washington and Europe, questioning the reliability of some European nations. His administration’s recently released National Security Strategy echoed these concerns, warning of Europe’s potential “civilisational erasure”. Russia, surprisingly, welcomed the strategy, deeming it “largely consistent” with its own worldview.
The US President also voiced concerns about immigration policies in Europe, describing many countries as “decaying” and singling out Hungary and Poland for their perceived success in managing borders.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz offered a measured response to the US National Security Strategy, stating that while some aspects were “plausible and understandable”, others were “unacceptable from a European point of view”. He firmly rejected the notion that Europe needed saving by the US, asserting its ability to address its own challenges.
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