BERLIN — European People’s Party (EPP) leader Manfred Weber has issued a stark warning following the explosive Oval Office meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, calling for urgent steps toward an independent European defense policy.
“Anyone looking at Washington must understand: Europe is on its own, and we must now arm ourselves independently,” Weber told German media group Funke on Sunday. “We also need to take the first steps toward a European army. Too much time has already been wasted.”
The dramatic falling-out between Trump and Zelenskyy — culminating in the abrupt cancellation of the planned signing of a minerals deal and Trump’s refusal to reaffirm U.S. military aid — has raised alarms across Europe. EU leaders fear Washington’s shifting priorities could leave Ukraine exposed and could weaken NATO’s strategic posture on the continent.
The White House meeting on Friday, meant to reinforce U.S.-Ukraine ties, devolved into a public confrontation when Trump accused Zelenskyy of failing to engage in peace talks with Russia and “gambling with World War III.”
Zelenskyy, in turn, insisted that Ukraine could not negotiate without solid security guarantees. The meeting ended with Trump abruptly instructing Zelenskyy to leave the White House, deepening concerns over U.S. commitment to European security.
Following the White House clash, Zelenskyy met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London on Saturday, after which the United Kingdom agreed to a €2.7 billion loan to Ukraine for defense purposes.
Weber, a senior figure in the center-right European political bloc, urged European leaders to make decisive commitments at the upcoming EU summit. He also called for strengthening Europe’s defense industry, criticizing reliance on American arms.
“If the U.S. is no longer a reliable partner, why are we still buying our weapons from them?” Weber said.
The post EPP leader Weber says ‘Europe is on its own’ after Trump-Zelenskyy clash appeared first on Politico.
