Europe’s Leaders Rally Around Zelenskyy After Trump Labels Ukrainian Leader a Dictator

The U.S. president’s criticism of his counterpart in Kyiv sparked consternation across the continent.

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (R) shakes hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy upon Starmer's arrival for a meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Jan. 16, 2025. Carl Court/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

European leaders have rallied to the defense of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after he was criticized by U.S. President Donald Trump on Feb. 19.

In a Feb. 19 Truth Social post that was shared on his X and Instagram accounts, Trump called Zelenskyy a “dictator” who was doing a “terrible job” and had played his predecessor President Joe Biden “like a fiddle.”