Ukraine‘s European allies, meeting tomorrow Sunday in London, stood by President Volodymyr Zelensky who was ousted from the White House yesterday Friday by an outraged Donald Trump who asked him to strike a deal with Russia, threatening that otherwise the U.S. would stop supporting Kiev.

Shocked by yesterday’s Oval Office confrontation, which led to Zelensky’s hasty departure from the White House without signing the mineral deal he had gone for, most European leaders rushed to defend the Ukrainian president.

About 15 of them will meet tomorrow in London for a session devoted to Ukraine and European security. During a conversation with Zelensky, who is an invited guest at the London summit, the British prime minister assured him of his “unwavering support.”

According to Downing Street, the summit will follow on from talks held in Paris under the French president Emmanuel Macron earlier this month and will focus “on strengthening Ukraine’s position today, including continued military support (to the country) and increased economic pressure on Russia.”

Participants will also discuss “the need for Europe to assume its role in the defence sector” in the face of the risk of the US military and nuclear umbrella being lifted.

French President Emmanuel Macron said he was ready “to start discussions” on the possibility of Europe acquiring nuclear deterrents in the future, at the request of Germany’s future chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Merz has assessed that it is necessary for Europe to prepare“for the worst case scenario” the US leaving NATO. He also wishes to discuss the possibility of extending the British and French nuclear umbrella to other European countries. France and Britain are the only two European countries with nuclear weapons.

Ukraine and Europe are watching Trump’s rapprochement with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin with concern. The two leaders had a phone call on February 12, while Moscow and Washington began – without inviting the Europeans or Kiev – bilateral negotiations to end the war.

These fears were reinforced after yesterday’s Trump-Zelensky confrontation live from the Oval Office.

The POTUS accused the Ukrainian president of “playing with the lives of millions of people. You’re playing with World War III (…) and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country.”

Trump also threatened Zelensky: “Make a deal (with Russia) or we’re leaving,” suggesting that Washington will stop supporting Kiev.

Clearly surprised, the Ukrainian president asked the US vice president “have you been to Ukraine to see our problems?” after J.D. Vance accused him of “disrespecting” Americans.

Trump then asked Zelensky to leave and canceled the joint press conference they were to hold as well as a working lunch.

“He may return when he is ready for peace,” the Republican wrote shortly afterward on Truth Social, while the U.S. secretary of state Marco Rubio asked Zelenski “to apologize for wasting our time with a meeting that would have ended this way.”

Asked by Fox News, Zelenski said he would like to restore relations with Trump, stressing that it would be “difficult” for his country to win the war without U.S. help.

Reactions from Russia were enthusiastic.

“The insolent pig finally got a good slap in the Oval Office”, former Russian president and current vice chairman of the country’s Security Council Dmitry Medvedev told Telegram. “For the first time, Trump told the truth to the cocaine-addicted clown”, he continued.

Europe assured Zelensky that it will stand by him

European leaders invited to the London summit have assured Zelenski of their support.

“Dear Zelensky, dear Ukrainian friends, you are not alone,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on the X platform.

“A united Sweden stands with our friends in Ukraine,” Swedish Prime Minister Wolf Kristerson noted, adding “Slava Ukraini!” (Glory to Ukraine).

“In Washington, by refusing to back down, Volodymyr Zelensky was the honor of Europe”, French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou commented in X.

“Today it became clear that the free world needs a new leader. We, the Europeans, must rise to this challenge,” urged the head of European diplomacy Kaya Kalas.

In Kiev, Ukrainians spoken to by AFP welcomed the determination of their president.

“I believe he fully defended our interests. He did not abandon us,” commented 32-year-old Roman Scanov, the owner of an IT company.

But 26-year-old doctor Anna Plachkova expressed her concerns about the future. “American support is very important (…) So, unfortunately, I don’t think it was positive for us.”