Greece’s Prime Minister Warns Europe About U.S. After Trump’s Comments on Ukraine

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has called on Europe to establish its own defense policy, citing shifts in U.S. policy on Ukraine and evolving geopolitical dynamics.

Speaking at a business conference in Thessaloniki on Wednesday, Mitsotakis emphasized the urgency for Europe to take greater responsibility for its security.

His remarks follow U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent statements labeling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “dictator” and suggesting that Kyiv was responsible for instigating the three-year conflict with Russia.

Trump also warned that Zelenskyy must act swiftly to secure peace or risk losing his country—a stance that has escalated tensions among European leaders.

Complicating matters further, the U.S. and Russia held peace talks in Saudi Arabia this week without Ukraine’s participation, a move that has shocked Kyiv and its European allies.

Ukraine has firmly stated that it will not accept any peace deal imposed without its consent, a position echoed by European leaders. Meanwhile, Russia has made it clear that it will not relinquish any of the territories it has gained during the conflict.

Mitsotakis emphasized that Europe needs to “wake up from the geopolitical and economic lethargy into which it has unfortunately fallen for some time.”

He said, “Recent developments and this different view of things from the United States now oblige us not only to face the truth, but to move at a very high speed and implement decisions that we have been discussing for long.”

Mitsotakis emphasized the urgent need for Europe to establish its own defense policy, enabling the continent to develop its deterrent capabilities and reduce dependence on the United States.

His remarks followed his participation in a virtual meeting led by France, where European leaders and Canada discussed the evolving situation in Ukraine.

For years, Europe has leaned on U.S. military power within NATO for security, but Trump has repeatedly pushed for increased European defense spending. Now, the former U.S. president is calling for greater European military contributions to any future Ukraine peace deal.

However, experts caution that Europe may struggle to meet these demands without U.S. support.