A former senior MEP has praised the King of England’s “unwavering determination to confirm the support for Ukraine.”
Danuta Hubner was speaking after King Charles met Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Sandringham at the weekend.
The meeting was seen as a sign of continuing support for Ukraine amid its ongoing bitter war with Russia.
Speaking to this website, Hubner, a former MEP and ex-EU commissioner, also praised the UK, along with other European nations, for its role in trying to broker a peace deal.
She said the UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer was “working hand in hand with the EU and other democracies to develop together with Ukraine a plan to end the criminal aggression of Russia and support Ukraine for as long as necessary.”
She also noted that it had been “painful for the Brits to listen to the Black Friday White House exchanges” between presidents Trump and Zelenskyy.
This is a reference to last week’s explosive encounter between the two men.
The last few days, said the Polish centre-right politician, had also seen “many Brits come out to the streets over the weekend to support Ukraine.”
The “democratic world,” she added, now hopes the US will co-sign any European peace plan “and provide the needed and expected guarantees for the lasting peace.”
Looking forward to the state visit by President Trump to the UK, where he will meet King Charles, she said, “I am sure His Majesty will deliver.”
Further comment on last Friday’s blow-up in the White House came from former UK Europe Minister Denis MacShane who told this site,
“Donald Trump is totally emotional and irrational.”
Meanwhile, Brussels-based journalists have added their weight to their colleagues in the US.
This comes with a statement of “solidarity” from the Brussels Foreign Correspondents Association (API-IPA) for the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA).
It reads,
“API-IPA stands in full solidarity with the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) in the face of actions that threaten the independence of a free press in the US. Sidelining the WHCA from decisions concerning access to the White House press pool is troubling and sets a dangerous precedent.”
API-IPA president Dafydd ab Iago said,
“As an organization representing the professional interests of journalists accredited to the EU institutions and NATO, API-IPA remains convinced that a free and independent press is the cornerstone of democracy. The ability of correspondents to report without government interference on those in power is fundamental. No leader should be able to pick and choose those who are allowed to report.”
“We note that the WHCA has worked tirelessly for over a century to uphold professional standards, to expand press access, and ensure that journalists—reporters, photographers, producers, and technicians—have the freedom to carry out their vital work without undue influence.”
“We strongly support the WHCA’s ongoing commitment to comprehensive access, full transparency, and the right of the US and world public to receive independent and fearless reporting. We join fellow correspondents in Washington in defending these principles, which are essential to holding power to account,”
Added Ab Iago.
Eurotoday is a daily online newspaper based in Belgium. Eurotoday publishes unique and independent coverage on international and European affairs. With a Europe-wide perspective, Eurotoday covers policies and politics of the EU, significant Member State developments, and looks at the international agenda with a European perspective.
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