BERLIN — Ahead of an emergency summit in London on Sunday focusing on the ongoing situation in Ukraine, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has called for strong European leadership in the aftermath of the recent confrontation between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
In a compelling address delivered at the Foreign Ministry on Saturday, Baerbock expressed concern over what she termed a “new era of ruthlessness,” which has emerged following Trump’s public humiliation of Zelenskyy, combined with the U.S. administration’s fluctuating stance on Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.
“A ruthless time has begun, in which we must defend the rules-based international order and the strength of law more than ever against the power of the strongest,” Baerbock stated.
Her comments come at a critical juncture for transatlantic relations. The dramatic exchange that unfolded in the White House on Friday saw Trump and U.S. Vice President JD Vance confront Zelenskyy, accusing Ukraine of ingratitude and of exaggerating its diplomatic leverage.
The repercussions of this meeting have cast doubt on the support Ukraine receives from the West. In light of escalating tensions between the U.S. and its allies, European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, are convening in London to reaffirm their commitment to Ukraine.
Key figures and discussions at the summit
The high-stakes summit will feature crucial discussions with Zelenskyy in attendance, alongside other prominent EU leaders, such as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and European Council President António Costa.
In her address, Baerbock also called on the Bundestag to expedite the release of a delayed €3 billion aid package for Ukraine and urged the European Council to approve a more extensive financial and military support plan.
Warning against narrative shifts
Furthermore, Baerbock issued a stark warning regarding the changing rhetoric emerging from Washington. She emphasized that, “We can never accept a reversal of perpetrator and victim. Such a reversal would mean the end of international law — and with it, the security of most states. And in the long run, it would also be fatal for the future of the United States.”