EU leaders plan to urge Zelenskyy to tone down Trump criticism - FT
European Union leaders plan to ask Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to moderate his public criticism of US President Donald Trump during their October 16 meeting, the Financial Times reported, citing three officials familiar with the summit preparations.
According to the officials, Zelenskyy's unusually direct criticism of Trump has surprised European leaders, who are concerned about further destabilizing transatlantic relations.
"It may be true, but you don't always have to say it out loud," one official told the FT.
The newspaper reported that EU leaders intend to deliver a message that is both sympathetic and firm, reaffirming their support for Ukraine while urging Zelenskyy to exercise greater restraint in his public statements about Washington.
The planned intervention comes after Zelenskyy told the FT that he felt "betrayed" by Washington's diesel agreement with Russia and Trump's announcement of an "energy ceasefire."
Zelenskyy said he feared Ukraine was losing the United States as an ally and called on Washington to remain an impartial mediator in efforts to end Russia's war.
"But if you are in the middle, you have to stay in the middle, not move to the wrong side," Zelenskyy said. "I think his advisers are wrong. I don't know who is pushing him in the wrong direction. This is not the right side of history."
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