Trump calls Europe 'weak' as London Ukraine talks

If you woke up to headlines saying Europe is “weak” and “decaying”, here’s the context you asked us to understand. In a Politico interview published on Tuesday 9 December 2025, US President Donald Trump questioned Europe’s leaders and hinted Washington could scale back support for Ukraine. We’ll walk through what was said, what others did in response, and what to watch next.

First, the claims. Mr Trump said European leaders “talk but don’t produce,” attacked London’s mayor by name, and argued Russia holds the “upper hand” in the war. He suggested President Volodymyr Zelensky should “play ball” on a deal that could involve giving up territory-language Kyiv rejects. These remarks track with public comments he has made before about European migration and security.

What did the UK government say? Downing Street pushed back, pointing to Britain’s work coordinating sanctions and its role alongside European partners, while also stating it supports the US‑led diplomatic track. In short, No 10 rejected the idea that Europe has “not produced” on Ukraine.

Here’s what was happening in Europe as those comments landed. On Monday 8 December, Mr Zelensky met the UK, French and German leaders at 10 Downing Street to align their approach and strengthen Ukraine’s position in ongoing talks. Reporting from Reuters and the Associated Press confirms these London discussions were about shaping a common plan before further engagement with Washington.

Ukraine’s position has remained consistent: no surrender of land. Mr Zelensky has said Ukraine has neither the legal nor moral right to cede territory, and he has repeated that message after the London meetings. That stance sits at the centre of Europe’s support for a “just peace” rather than a quick fix.

Mr Zelensky also told the public he and European partners are finalising “refined” documents on a peace framework to present to the US. Finnish President Alexander Stubb has described three strands under discussion: a 20‑point framework, security guarantees, and reconstruction. The timing matters because Ukraine wants to brief the White House soon after the London work.

Another piece of the story is Washington’s new National Security Strategy. The 33‑page document warns of Europe’s supposed “civilisational erasure” and says the US should “cultivate resistance” to the continent’s current course-language that analysts note echoes far‑right narratives. Moscow publicly welcomed the strategy as “largely consistent” with its own view, a point European officials say underlines their concerns.

European leaders have voiced objections. Germany’s chancellor, Friedrich Merz, said Europe does not need the US to “save democracy,” while European Council president António Costa warned Washington not to meddle in EU politics. These replies show Europe trying to keep unity on Ukraine while challenging rhetoric it sees as corrosive.

For you as a reader, the practical question is how these arguments shape the next phase of the war. European governments are working on long‑term funding and military aid, including proposals to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, though Belgium has raised legal and financial risks. Expect more debate this month on how to share costs without weakening the rule‑of‑law case against Russia.

What to watch next. In the coming days, Ukraine and its European partners plan to send their revised proposals to Washington. The key tests will be whether any plan protects Ukraine’s sovereignty, includes credible security guarantees, and avoids forcing Kyiv into concessions that could invite a future attack. We’ll continue to check claims against the primary documents and official readouts as they appear.