German Chancellor Olaf Scholz did not mention the U.S. president by name, but his criticism was unmistakable when he stated: “Volodymyr Zelenskyy is the elected head of state of Ukraine. The inability to hold regular elections during wartime aligns with Ukraine’s constitution and electoral laws. No one should claim otherwise.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been largely diplomatic toward Trump since his return to the White House, aiming to preserve the so-called special relationship between their countries.
However, Ukraine remains a sensitive issue. During a call with Zelenskyy on Wednesday night, Starmer reaffirmed his support, emphasizing that the Ukrainian president is the country’s legitimately elected leader. According to a Downing Street statement, Starmer also noted that suspending elections during wartime is reasonable—a precedent set by the U.K. during World War II.
In a nod to Trump, the statement also mentioned Starmer’s backing for U.S.-led efforts to secure lasting peace in Ukraine while deterring further Russian aggression.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who has previously clashed with Trump over his interest in acquiring Greenland, expressed confusion over the U.S. leader’s criticism of Zelenskyy. As reported by local media, Frederiksen said, “Zelenskyy is a democratically elected and exceptionally capable political leader in Europe.”
Similarly, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson reiterated that Ukraine’s president was chosen through a democratic process. Meanwhile, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre denounced Trump’s characterization of Zelenskyy as a dictator, calling it “deeply unreasonable.”
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