German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul also reaffirmed his country’s support for Zelensky on Sunday, while calling for more pressure on Moscow to resume peace talks.
“We need constant consistency and clarity from the Ukraine side,” he told Reuters at a meeting of the ruling Christian Democrats.
The show of support comes after Zelensky and Trump exchanged barbs on Saturday over Washington’s decision to ease sanctions on Russia over diesel. “I think it’s time for Ukraine to have a new president,” Trump told reporters at the White House in criticizing Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil facilities.
On Sunday, Ukraine’s president said on social media that his country would be ready to stop attacking Russian oil refineries “if Russia stopped hitting our energy infrastructure.”
The UK also reiterated its support for Kyiv following Trump’s remarks. “We stand with Ukraine. We stand with President Zelensky,” British Defense Secretary Wes Streeting told the BBC on Sunday morning, adding that Ukrainians alone should decide who will lead their country.
Streeting said Russian President Vladimir Putin had started the war and could end it, and added that Britain’s priority would be to seek reconciliation between kyiv and Washington.
On Saturday, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham spoke with Zelensky and reiterated Britain’s “full solidarity”, Downing Street said. Burnham acknowledged that “the last 24 hours have been difficult for Ukraine” and pledged to strengthen sanctions, according to the statement.
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