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Donald Trump did not send a video message to the European summit in Budapest today, as its host Viktor Orban is reported to have wanted – but his impact was felt everywhere.
UK and European leaders discussed possible US tariffs – which could have a huge economic impact – migration, and of course, Ukraine, where changes in the White House will determine the course of the war.
Messages of support were sent to Kyiv from allies. Keir Starmer, one of 42 national leaders attending, had a bilateral meeting with President Zelenskyy and reassured him of the UK’s “ironclad” support.
Starmer says ‘special relationship’ as important as ever – Politics latest
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen was more direct – saying it was in all European countries’ interests to show “the autocrats of the world that there’s not a right of might” and to defend “the integrity of countries”.
Only Orban, Trump’s chief cheerleader in Europe – who said he had toasted the election result with vodka – favours negotiations with Vladimir Putin.
Trump, who said he would solve the war “in 24 hours” if he was re-elected, is feared to be planning to pressure Zelenskyy into surrendering territory to bring the war to an end.
Whatever it takes to back Ukraine was the message from most here, but there was anxiety about whether Europe has what it takes.
EU leaders – minus the UK and others attending today – will be meeting for dinner tonight to chew over the new trans-Atlantic relationship in more detail.
The European Political Community, holding its fifth…
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