European Leaders Try to Recalibrate After Trump Sides With Russia on Ukraine
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The American president’s latest remarks embracing Vladimir Putin’s narrative that Ukraine is to blame for the war have compounded the sense of alarm among traditional allies.
President Emmanuel Macron of France called a second emergency meeting of European allies on Wednesday seeking to recalibrate relations with the United States as President Trump upends international politics by rapidly changing American alliances.
Mr. Macron had already assembled a dozen European leaders in Paris on Monday after Mr. Trump and his new team angered and confused America’s traditional allies by suggesting that the United States would rapidly retreat from its security role in Europe and planned to proceed with peace talks with Russia — without Europe or Ukraine at the table.
Mr. Trump’s remarks late on Tuesday, when he sided fully with Russia’s narrative blaming Ukraine for the war, have now fortified the impression that the United States is prepared to abandon its role as a European ally and switch sides to embrace President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia.
It was a complete reversal of historic alliances that left many in Europe stunned and fearful.
“What’s happening is very bad. It’s a reversal of the state of the world since 1945,” Jean- Yves Le Drian, a former French foreign minister, said on French radio Wednesday morning.
“It’s our security he’s putting at risk,” he said, referring to President Trump. “We must wake up.”
In the vacuum, Mr. Macron has tried to show leadership, corralling allied leaders, particularly in Europe, to devise a united response.
The Élysée Palace announced that he would host a second emergency meeting on Wednesday, stating that the interim president of Romania, Ilie Bolojan, would attend in person while other leaders were expected by video.