US President Donald Trump used a POLITICO interview published on 9 December to describe European leaders as “weak” and to argue that Russia holds the stronger negotiating position in the war against Ukraine. He suggested Kyiv may need to accept concessions to secure a deal, statements that place fresh strain on transatlantic unity.
Downing Street rejected the characterisation, pointing to the UK’s role in coordinating support for Ukraine and leading sanctions enforcement. A No 10 spokesperson highlighted UK action against Russia’s oil “shadow fleet” and reiterated support for US‑led diplomacy.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine and European partners have refined documents for a peace framework and will present them to Washington shortly. He reaffirmed that Ukraine will not surrender territory; officials say the revised framework runs to 20 points.
European coordination intensified in London on 8 December, when Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted Zelenskyy, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron at No 10 to align positions ahead of further engagement with the White House. The work builds on the UK‑chaired leaders’ meeting in March that committed Europe to pursue a “strong, just and lasting peace” in partnership with the US.
In the same interview, Trump accused European capitals of “talking” without delivering and escalated criticism of migration policy, including a personal attack on London’s mayor. European officials publicly pushed back, warning Washington against interference in EU politics.
The White House last week published a 33‑page National Security Strategy that reframes Europe, warning of “civilisational erasure” and pledging to “cultivate resistance” to the continent’s current course. The document also softens language on Russia compared with previous strategies.
Moscow welcomed the strategy, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov calling it largely consistent with Russia’s outlook; coverage noted the document’s emphasis on restoring “strategic stability” while seeking a rapid end to the war.
Responding on 9 December, Germany’s Friedrich Merz said parts of the US approach were unacceptable from a European point of view and argued that Europe must reduce security dependence on the United States while maintaining constructive ties.
For European governments, the near‑term workload is clear: maintain weapons, training and financing pipelines to Kyiv; tighten sanctions enforcement-especially against the tanker “shadow fleet” moving Russian oil; and shape credible security guarantees that can be activated alongside any ceasefire.
Kyiv’s next step is to deliver the refined papers to the White House for joint review. European capitals are preparing to brief Washington on guarantees, reconstruction finance and the use of frozen Russian assets, while resisting any settlement that requires territorial concessions.