Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has delivered an extraordinarily pointed message to European leaders during a speech in Germany, strongly implying that the United States can no longer be trusted to oppose Russia under the administration of Donald Trump.
“Many leaders have talked about a Europe that needs its own military. An army. An Army of Europe. And I believe the time has come. The armed forces of Europe must be created,” said Mr Zelensky.
“This is not just about increasing defence spending as a GDP ratio. People and weapons don’t come for free. It’s about people realising they need to defend their own. Their own home.
“Europe must decide its own future.”
The fear, in Ukraine, is that US President Donald Trump intends to negotiate a peace deal directly with Vladimir Putin, cutting Ukrainians out of the process.
“Ukraine will never accept deals made behind our backs without our involvement,” he said.
