The EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said ‘the free world needs a new leader’ and that it was up to Europeans to take this challenge

The EU foreign policy chief has declared that “the free world needs a new leader”, as European leaders threw their support behind Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, after the stunning White House confrontation between him and Donald Trump.

Leaders from across Europe expressed their solidarity with the Ukrainian leader after the fractious exchange with JD Vance, the US vice-president, and Trump, who claimed he was not “ready for peace” and accused him of “gambling with world war three”.

Although in general, the European leaders did not name the US president, their comments late on Friday laid bare the gaping rift between the US and its traditional allies in Europe over the war in Ukraine.

In a social media post, Kaja Kallas, the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, wrote: “Ukraine is Europe! We stand by Ukraine. We will step up our support to Ukraine so that they can continue to fight back the aggressor.

“Today, it became clear that the free world needs a new leader. It’s up to us, Europeans, to take this challenge.”

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  • DigitalDilemma@lemmy.mlEnglish
    17·
    7 hours ago

    Each will send their old or excess stock, or newly manufacturer weapons.

    Some of the old stock may include weapons bought from the US previously, but it’s very unlikely Europeans will be buying new weapons and supplies from US to give to Ukraine. France, Germany Italy, Spain and the UK all have significant arms manufacturing ability and have ability to scale up quickly. (Reference)

    Many European leaders (including business leaders) are extremely reticent to enter into new supply deals of any kind with the US given the recent trade volatility.