European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said “the free world needs a new leader” after US President Donald Trump clashed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Friday. “It's up to us, Europeans, to take this challenge," she added in her social media post. Read our liveblog to see how the day's events unfolded.
This liveblog is no longer being updated. For more coverage on the war in Ukraine, click here.
US considering ending all ongoing shipments of military aid to Ukraine, Trump source says
Meloni calls for a summit 'without delay' between US, Europe, allies
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called on Friday evening for a summit between the United States, Europe and their allies on Ukraine, following a clash between leaders Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky.
“A summit without delay is needed between the United States, European states and their allies to talk frankly about how we intend to tackle today’s major challenges, starting with Ukraine, which together we have defended in recent years,” Meloni said in a statement.
Hungary's Orban thanks Trump for standing 'for peace'
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Friday thanked US President Donald Trump for standing “bravely for peace” following a heated dispute between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Trump at the White House.
“Strong men make peace, weak men make war. Today President @realDonaldTrump stood bravely for peace. Even if it was difficult for many to digest. Thank you, Mr. President!” Orban wrote in a post on X.
Canada's foreign minister says Ukraine fighting for freedom, after Trump-Zelensky spat
Canada’s foreign minister defended Ukraine Friday after a row broke out between US President Donald Trump and his counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, saying Ukrainians were fighting for their freedom and “ours.”
“We believe in supporting Ukraine. We think Ukrainians are fighting for their own freedoms, but they’re also fighting for ours,” Canada’s top diplomat Melanie Joly told reporters in Vancouver, adding that “Russians are noting” the Trump-Zelensky spat in the White House.
Senator Lindsey Graham says he has 'never been more proud' of Trump
Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina scolded Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and in a post on X called his Oval Office meeting with the US president a “complete, utter disaster” adding that he’s “never been more proud” of Trump.
“What I saw in the Oval Office was disrespectful and I don’t know if we can ever do business with Zelensky again.”
Germany's Merz says 'never confuse the agressor and victim' in Ukraine war
Likely future German chancellor Friedrich Merz assured his support to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following a spat with his US counterpart.
“We must never confuse the aggressor and the victim in this terrible war,” Merz, whose party recently came top in Germany’s elections, said on X. Outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz voiced support for Kyiv in a statement.
Former Trump advisor John Bolton says Trump and Vance are 'on Russia's side' in Ukraine war
John Bolton, who was US national security advisor from 2018 to 2019 under the first Trump administration, said on X that Trump's stance on Ukraine was "a catastrophic mistake for America's national security," adding that "Trump and Vance now personally own that policy. It is not the view of a majority of Americans of either or no political party."
EU foreign policy chief says 'free world needs a new leader' after Trump clash with Zelensky
The European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said it has become clear that “the free world needs a new leader” after US President Donald Trump clashed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Friday.
“Ukraine is Europe! We stand by Ukraine,” Kallas said in a social media post.
“We will step up our support to Ukraine so that they can continue to fight back (against) the aggressor,” she added. “Today, it became clear that the free world needs a new leader."
"It’s up to us, Europeans, to take this challenge.”
Ukrainians voice support for Zelensky after Trump's hostile words at the White House
Ukrainians reaffirmed support for President Volodymyr Zelensky after he was subjected to US President Donald Trump's verbal assault at the White House, with opposition politicians agreeing with Zelensky's rejection of the Trump ceasefire plan that did not include security guarantees. FRANCE 24’s Emmanuelle Chaze reports from Kyiv.
EU's von der Leyen voices support for Zelensky after White House clash
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen voiced support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following a shouting match between Zelensky and US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Friday.
“Your dignity honors the bravery of the Ukrainian people,” she posted on X. “Be strong, be brave, be fearless. You are never alone, dear President @ZelenskyyUa. We will continue working with you for a just and lasting peace.”
France's Macron had Zelensky on phone following Oval Office clash, Elysée says
French President Emmanuel Macron has spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the phone following Zelensky’s clash with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Friday, the presidential Elysée palace said.
Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal says Zelensky right not to sign US deal
Russia says Trump showed 'restraint' against 'scumbag' Zelensky
Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Friday said US President Donald Trump showed “restraint” by not hitting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during their shouting match in the White House.
“I think Zelensky’s biggest lie of all his lies was his assertion in the White House that the Kyiv regime in 2022 was alone, without support,” she wrote on Telegram.
“How Trump and Vance held back from hitting that scumbag is a miracle of restraint,” she said.
French foreign minister, after Oval Office clash, says for Europe it is time for action
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, in comments following a shouting match between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Friday, said that for Europeans it is now time for action.
“There is an aggressor: Putin’s Russia, the Ukrainian people have been aggressed. In the face of this, and for the sake of our collective security, there is one necessity: Europe, now. The time for words is over, let’s move on to action.”
Europe 'united' behind Ukraine, Germany says after Zelensky-Trump row
Germany’s foreign minister on Friday said Berlin and Europe were “united” behind Ukraine after an extraordinary row broke out between US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.
“Germany together with our European allies stands united alongside #Ukraine - and against the Russian aggression,” Annalena Baerbock wrote on X and Bluesky, adding that Kyiv’s “quest for peace & security is ours”.
Zelensky thanks USA after showdown with Trump
In his first reaction since his showdown with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked the US president, people and Congress for his visit.
Ukraine needs a "just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that," said Zelensky.
White House posts clip of Zelensky leaving after Oval Office showdown
The White House has posted a clip of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky leaving the premises after an extraordinary showdown with President Trump in the Oval Office.
The clip, posted on X, uses a quote by Trump accusing Zelensky of "disrespecting" the US.
Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev echoes Trump's harsh words to Zelensky
Macron says Russia is the 'aggressor' following Trump-Zelensky spat
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday if that if there was “an aggressor” in the Ukraine war, it was Russia.
His remarks followed a heated exchanged between US President Donald Trump and his Ukraine counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky.
“There is an aggressor which is Russia. There is an aggressed people which is Ukraine,” Macron told journalists during a state visit to Portugal. “I think we were all right to help Ukraine and sanction Russia three years ago and to continue to do so,” he added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Trump are set to sign an agreement allowing the US to access Ukraine's rare earth minerals as Zelensky attempts to secure US backing in peace talks with Russia.
Trump expressed confidence that Russian President Vladimir Putin would honour the conditions of a peace agreement once one is signed.
