# Why European leaders didn’t press Zelensky to soften his criticism of Trump

https://mins.news/en/item/103495

- Meduza, 2026-10-16 17:32 UTC
- Politics
- Original: https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/10/16/what-do-you-expect-him-to-do-a-diplomat-explains-why-european-leaders-didn-t-pressure-zelensky-over-his-criticism-of-trump

> European leaders did not ask Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to moderate his remarks about U.S. President Donald Trump at a meeting in Brussels, diplomatic sources told Politico. One source said Zelensky was desperate and the situation could hardly be worse. The Financial Times had earlier reported that EU leaders planned to urge him to ease his criticism, concerned it could further strain Washington-Kyiv ties.

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