EUROPEAN Nato members said they would stand by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last night after his public humiliation in the Oval Office.

US President Donald Trump and Vice-President JD Vance berated the Ukrainian leader in front of the world’s cameras, accusing him of ingratitude for US support in the earlier stages of the war with Russia and of opposing a ceasefire.

In scenes that shocked observers worldwide, the pair talked over Mr Zelensky and told him off when he attempted to challenge their narrative about the war, while highlighting aspects of the situation on the ground long obscured by Western governments — that Ukraine has severe manpower problems and has to press-gang reluctant conscripts to serve on the front line, and that it has been steadily losing to Russia.

European leaders already were shaken by Mr Vance’s speech to the Munich Security Conference two weeks ago in which he lectured them about the state of their democracy. As prime ministers and presidents across the continent scrambled to respond, they have held a series of emergency summits to discuss security. 

Another such summit will happen tomorrow in London, hosted by British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer — but Mr Zelensky’s public dressing down at the White House, which he left early without signing a much-mooted deal to allow US exploitation of Ukrainian resources, exposes the failure of Sir Keir and French President Emmanuel Macron’s trips to Washington over the past week to seek continued US support for Ukraine.

Sir Keir was also treated with disdain by Mr Trump, who at one point interrupted him while he sought to avoid answering a question on the US president’s threats to Canada, saying “That’s enough” while the British PM was still talking and moving on to the next question. Mr Trump also embarrassed Sir Keir by asking him before reporters whether he thought Britain could fight Russia on its own.

However that was nothing to the open row with Mr Zelensky, followed by which Mr Trump tweeted that the Ukrainian president was not ready for peace and should not come back until he was serious, accusing him again of being disrespectful. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio followed up the meeting by demanding Mr Zelensky apologise to Mr Trump and the US more generally.

A spokesman for No 10 said Britain’s position was not changed by the debacle, and that Sir Keir “retains unwavering support for Ukraine, and is doing all he can to find a path forward to a lasting peace based on sovereignty and security for Ukraine.”

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni proposed “an immediate summit” with the US and Europe “to speak frankly about how we intend to face today’s great challenges, starting with Ukraine.”

EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen tweeted Zelensky, saying: “your dignity honors the bravery of the Ukrainian people. Be strong, be brave, be fearless. You are never alone, dear president.”

And German chancellor-in-prospect Friedrich Merz said: “We stand with Ukraine in good and testing times. We must never confuse aggressor and victim in this terrible war.”

However, European weapons stocks have already been run down by supplying the Ukraine war, nor are its armies used to operating except under a US umbrella. Sir Keir’s repeated calls for a US “backstop” to any Ukraine deal stem from awareness that European militaries are likely incapable of facing down the Russian army.

European far-right leaders backed Mr Trump, with Germany’s AfD co-leader Alice Weidel tweeting: “Historic. Trump & Vance!” The AfD calls for an end to sanctions on Russia and delivery of armaments to Ukraine.

Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban also praised Mr Trump, saying: “Today President Donald Trump stood bravely for peace. Even if it was difficult for many to digest. Thank you, Mr President.”

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said it was “time for Europe to step up” following the altercations.

“We do not need to wait for something else to happen; Europe has enough resources, including Russia’s frozen assets, to enable Ukraine to continue fighting.”