Russian politicians mock European leaders after White House, Ukraine talks

Russian politicians have ridiculed European leaders following the White House meeting on the Ukraine war.

Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev called it “anti-Russian warmongering Coalition of the Willing” and ineffective.

He claimed that they thanked and sucked up to U.S. President Donald Trump but failed to outplay him.

In his post on X on Monday, Medvedev also mocked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, questioning how the “clown from Kiev” would act once he was back home and wearing his military uniform.

The talks in Washington involved Trump, Zelensky, and top European officials, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Others are: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

The European leaders discussed a peace process and stressed that Ukraine must receive strong security guarantees.

Trump suggested a rapid follow-up meeting between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which could then pave the way to a meeting that would also include him.

Russian foreign policy expert Konstantin Kosachev said on Telegram that, under pressure from Trump, Ukraine and the Europeans had to moderate their anti-Russian stance.

“Times have changed. Neither Kiev nor Brussels can bark at Russia hidden behind the American back,” wrote the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Russian Federation Council.

One consistent message was opposition to European capitals being involved in peace negotiations.

Leonid Slutsky, head of the Russian State Duma’s foreign affairs committee, said: “Europe should follow Vladimir Putin’s call and not interfere in the negotiation process.”

(dpa/NAN)