Trump attacks Ukraine's Zelensky as EU rallies support in Brussels

Trump launched a fresh salvo of criticism directed at Zelensky on Wednesday, characterizing the Ukrainian president as more challenging to work with than the Russian leader. The US president's remarks underscore growing tensions between Washington and Kyiv over the direction of peace negotiations and military aid.

The timing of Trump's comments coincided with an emergency meeting of EU leaders in the Belgian capital, where bloc officials sought to coordinate a unified response to the conflict and reaffirm their commitment to Ukraine. European officials have increasingly sought to strengthen their position independent of US policy, particularly given shifts in American attitudes toward ongoing support for Kyiv.

Zelensky is expected to make his case directly to European leaders, seeking to maintain the political and financial backing that has proved crucial to Ukraine's defense efforts. The Ukrainian president has previously expressed concerns about negotiations that might compromise his nation's sovereignty or territorial integrity.

The divergence between Washington's approach and Europe's stance reflects deepening disagreements over Ukraine strategy. While the Trump administration has signaled openness to negotiations to end the conflict, European leaders have generally favored a stronger posture supporting Ukrainian resistance and deterring Russian aggression.