President Donald Trump disclosed on Wednesday that he delivered “pretty strong words” during a tense conference call with French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, exposing a widening transatlantic rift over the path to ending Russia’s nearly four-year invasion of Ukraine. The heated exchange centered on Washington’s evolving peace framework and Europe’s reluctance to fully align with the latest American proposals.
Trump revealed that the European trio urgently requested an in-person summit this weekend, potentially including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, but issued a blunt precondition: the United States will only attend if concrete assurances are provided in advance. Warning against “wasting time,” he emphasized that minor disagreements persist and that Washington expects clarity on critical issues before committing to further high-level talks.
The confrontation follows weeks of friction after an initial US plan suggesting Ukrainian territorial concessions—even on land not currently occupied by Russia—was rejected by Kyiv and its European backers as excessively favorable to Moscow. Ukrainian officials confirmed on Wednesday that an updated counter-draft has been sent to Washington, while separate direct talks between US envoys and Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin last week ended without breakthrough.
Also Read: Trump Says Birthright Citizenship Was Meant for Freed Slaves’ Children, Not Foreign Visitors
Trump’s latest remarks amplify recent public criticism in which he branded Europe “decaying” and “weak” on both immigration and Ukraine support, language echoed in a new US national security strategy that warns of the continent facing possible “civilizational erasure.” He reiterated frustration with the war’s human toll, blaming former President Joe Biden for its outbreak and questioning whether prolonged fighting serves any purpose when thousands continue to die weekly.
As European leaders scramble to convene a separate “coalition of the willing” video conference on Thursday to coordinate their response, Trump’s uncompromising stance signals a potential turning point: either Europe accepts significant elements of the revised US framework, or Washington may dramatically scale back its diplomatic engagement in a conflict the president once vowed to resolve within 24 hours of returning to office.
Also Read: President Trump Labels African Immigrants ‘Disgusting’ in Controversial Rally