US President Donald Trump has criticised European leaders as “weak” and suggested the US could scale back support for Ukraine.In a wide-ranging interview with Politico, he said “decaying” European countries had failed to control migration or take decisive action to end Ukraine’s war with Russia, accusing them of letting Kyiv fight “until they drop”. He argued that Russia held the “upper hand” and urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to “play ball” by ceding territory to Moscow.In the UK, Downing Street rejected Trump’s claim that Europe had failed to act, citing the UK’s leadership on sanctions and reiterating support for the US-led peace process.Zelensky, writing on X later on Tuesday, said Ukraine and Europe were working actively on “all components of potential steps toward ending the war”, that the Ukrainian and European elements of the plan were now more developed and that Kyiv was ready to present them to “our partners in the US”.In his interview, Trump claimed ideological divisions now threatened to fracture Washington’s alliances. Asked whether leaders he viewed as weak could still be allies, he replied: “It depends”, adding: “I think they’re weak, but I also think that they want to be so politically correct. I think they don’t know what to do.”His comments come a day after European leaders came together in London to discuss their continued joint efforts to reach a peace deal with Russia.The talks were the latest attempt by Ukraine’s European allies to carve out a role in the US-led efforts to end the war, which they fear will undercut the long-term interests of the continent in favour of a quick resolution. Asked whether Europe could help end Russia’s war with Ukraine, the US president said: “They talk but they don’t produce. And the war just keeps going on and on.”Ukraine is preparing to present a revised peace plan to the White House, seeking alternatives to any settlement requiring territorial concessions. Zelensky, who has again ruled out surrendering land, is pressing European and Nato leaders to help deter …
