German MP: "With Trump, the US is no longer an ally of Europe"

In the wake of a scandalous incident during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to the White House, leading German political figures have sharply criticized U.S. actions and called for urgent changes in defense policy.

Anton Hofreiter, the head of the Bundestag's Committee on European Affairs and a member of the Green Party, voiced his concerns about the current state of U.S.-European relations, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

He called for the Bundestag to quickly approve increased defense spending, emphasizing the need to prioritize security. 

"We now need the Bundestag to quickly declare an emergency [with funding] and allocate significant resources for our security," Hofreiter said in an interview with the editorial group RND. He also underscored the necessity of a substantial aid package for Ukraine, adding, "With Trump, the U.S. is no longer an ally of Europe. This should be clear to everyone in Germany and Europe after the farce at the White House."

Hofreiter's comments followed a tense episode in the White House, which many viewed as an embarrassing moment for both U.S. and Ukrainian relations. The incident prompted not only a shift in tone but also a reassessment of the transatlantic alliance.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, known for his usually cautious stance, also weighed in with unusually harsh criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump. "Diplomacy fails when negotiating partners are humiliated in front of the whole world," Steinmeier told the DPA news agency.

He expressed shock at the events in the White House, stating, "The scene that happened yesterday at the White House shocked me. I would never have believed that one day we would have to defend Ukraine from the United States."

Steinmeier also called for the swift formation of a new government in Germany, underlining the need for a strong response to the shifting dynamics in international relations. His comments reflect broader concerns in Europe about the future of its partnership with the United States, particularly under the leadership of Donald Trump.

By Khagan Isayev