Trump criticises 'decaying' European countries and 'weak' leaders

December 9, 2025

President Trump criticized European nations as weak and decaying in a Politico interview, focusing on their handling of migration and the Ukraine conflict while threatening to reduce US support for Ukraine. He pressured Ukrainian President Zelensky to accept a peace deal involving territorial concessions to Russia, claiming without evidence that Zelensky was blocking progress despite Russian acceptance of the proposal. UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper countered by highlighting European strength through defense investments and support for Ukraine, while noting Putin's continued escalation.

Who is affected

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Ukraine as a nation
European leaders and countries (particularly those criticized for migration policies)
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and the United Kingdom
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Germany
Hungary and Poland (singled out positively by Trump)
NATO member states
Russian President Putin and Russia
US officials and administration involved in peace negotiations

What action is being taken

US officials are holding separate talks with Ukrainian and Russian officials to broker an end to the war
European leaders are meeting to discuss joint efforts to stop the fighting in Ukraine (referenced London meeting)
Ukraine and Europe are working actively on components of potential steps toward ending the war
The Trump administration has released a 33-page National Security Strategy
Trump is pressuring Zelensky to agree to a deal and cede territory

Why it matters

This matters because it represents a fundamental shift in US-European relations and American commitment to supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression. The potential scaling back of US support and Trump's pressure for territorial concessions could leave Ukraine vulnerable to future attacks and undermine the security architecture that has protected Europe since World War II. The questioning of traditional alliances and Europe's reliability as partners threatens the Western unity that has been central to deterring Russian expansion and maintaining global stability.

What's next

Zelensky indicated Ukraine is ready to present Ukrainian and European elements of their plan to US partners
Continued negotiations between US officials and Ukrainian/Russian representatives to reach a peace agreement
European leaders will continue working with Ukraine on potential steps toward ending the war

Read full article from source: BBC