Europeans embrace Zelensky after he was vilified by Trump

Here is a rewritten version of the article by Stephen Collinson, maintaining the key points and structure but rephrased in my own words:

Analysis: Zelensky Faces U.S. Pressure to Step Down as Europe Steps Up Support

By Stephen Collinson, CNN

7-minute read

Updated 12:49 AM EST, Mon March 3, 2025

On February 19, 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was photographed in Ankara, Turkey, during a visit that underscored his ongoing diplomatic efforts. However, a disastrous meeting in Washington has thrown his leadership into question, with senior U.S. officials hinting he might need to step aside—even as European leaders rally around him more firmly than ever.

This growing divide between the U.S. and Europe marks the most severe rift in the Western alliance since the collapse of the Berlin Wall, raising fears that the unity of the "free world" is fracturing just as President Donald Trump begins his new term. Yet, Europe's response to Trump's initial push to end the Ukraine war could offer a glimmer of hope—if the continent can deliver on its promise, made Sunday, to craft a peace proposal for the U.S. president.

The fallout from Zelensky’s ill-fated Washington visit continues to escalate. On CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday, Trump’s national security adviser, Mike Waltz, expressed doubts about Zelensky’s commitment to peace. “We need a leader capable of working with us, and eventually the Russians, to stop this war,” Waltz told host Dana Bash. “If Zelensky’s personal or political ambitions don’t align with ending the conflict, we’ve got a serious problem.”

Waltz’s remarks reflect the Trump administration’s insistence that the war must end swiftly, regardless of the terms, as the president seeks to mend ties with Russian leader Vladimir Putin—while wrongly pinning blame on Zelensky for Russia’s unprovoked invasion.

Meanwhile, European leaders are taking a starkly different approach. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted Zelensky in London on Saturday, where he was warmly received as a guest of honor. In a notable gesture, King Charles III met with Zelensky for an hour, shortly after extending a second state visit invitation to Trump. At a Sunday summit, Starmer pledged a “coalition of the willing” to bolster Ukraine’s defenses and stressed that any lasting peace requires U.S. security commitments—something Trump has yet to provide. France and Britain also floated a monthlong truce proposal, though Zelensky has not confirmed his stance on it, according to French President Emmanuel Macron’s comments to Le Figaro.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the need to make Ukraine a formidable deterrent, likening it to a “steel porcupine” that no invader could swallow.

A Turning Point in the Oval Office

Friday’s dramatic Oval Office clash—where Trump and Vice President JD Vance publicly reprimanded Zelensky before ejecting him from the White House—has left an indelible mark on U.S. foreign policy history. The harsh treatment of a democratic leader resisting Russia’s brutal, illegal war stunned observers globally and fueled accusations that Trump is abandoning decades of American values to appease an aggressor.

Trump’s allies, however, hailed the encounter as a victory, arguing it showcased the strength of his “America first” doctrine. Yet the incident has complicated his narrative as a master negotiator uniquely equipped to end the war. His apparent strategy—pressuring Ukraine into a deal favoring Putin—unraveled, along with a potential agreement to tap Ukraine’s rare-earth minerals, a deal Trump viewed as a personal coup. His ambitions for a Nobel Peace Prize now seem increasingly out of reach.

Zelensky’s own frustration during the meeting, as he tried to explain Ukraine’s need for ironclad guarantees given Putin’s history of broken promises, only deepened the diplomatic mess. His relationship with Trump may now be beyond repair, risking cuts to U.S. aid and intelligence support that Ukraine’s military sorely needs.

Europe Fills the Void

The Oval Office debacle spurred Europe into action. Leaders there are now working to shield Zelensky from Trump’s wrath and draft a peace plan they hope he’ll accept as a starting point for talks with Putin. But Europe’s ability to step into the breach is uncertain, given its diminished military capacity after years of budget cuts and its dependence on U.S. backing within NATO.

In Washington, calls for Zelensky’s ouster are growing louder. House Speaker Mike Johnson told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that Zelensky must “come to his senses” and negotiate gratefully—or be replaced. Even Sen. Lindsey Graham, once a Zelensky ally, sided with Trump, questioning whether the Ukrainian leader can still be a viable partner.

Waltz, pressed by Bash on “State of the Union” about his shifting view of Zelensky—once likened to Winston Churchill, now dismissed as an “ex-girlfriend”—suggested Zelensky may not be the leader to guide Ukraine into peace. He noted Churchill’s postwar ousting in 1945 but glossed over key differences: Britain held elections only after victory in Europe, while Ukraine, still under siege, has postponed voting amid war and displacement.

A fractured West

Zelensky’s warm reception in London starkly contrasts with his vilification in Washington, exposing a widening U.S.-Europe divide exacerbated by Trump’s demand that Europe shoulder more of its defense burden. The best outcome of Europe’s latest push might be convincing Trump that its leaders are serious about supporting a peace deal—and that increased defense spending could preserve NATO despite his doubts.

Europeans see Trump’s rapport with Putin as a potential asset, hoping he could cajole the Russian leader into negotiations. Waltz offered a hint of U.S. flexibility Sunday, acknowledging that Russia, too, must offer security concessions. Yet Trump has not endorsed Starmer and Macron’s call for U.S. support for a European-led peacekeeping force.

Still, Trump allies are undermining Europe’s efforts. Intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard claimed on “Fox News Sunday” that European support for Zelensky signals a lack of commitment to peace and freedom—echoing Kremlin rhetoric. Meanwhile, Elon Musk, a Trump confidant, ridiculed the London summit on X, decrying “fancy dinners” amid battlefield deaths.

As the West splinters, Putin likely relishes the chaos—a goal he’s long pursued.

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