European Leaders Behave Like Supplicants to an Almighty Trump. Putin Just Sees Him as a Protégé

THE GUARDIAN — OPINION: Nato’s Trump-whispering has been vital for Ukraine – but the White House and the Kremlin have their own special channel

Ahungry pigeon given food at frequent but irregular intervals will develop weird rituals – tics, dances, erratic head jerks – in the hope of summoning another morsel. BF Skinner, the psychologist who first demonstrated this effect in 1947, described the birds adopting “a sort of superstition … as if there were a causal relation between its behaviour and the presentation of food, although such a relation is lacking”.

It would be unkind to compare that bird-brained affliction to the behaviour of European leaders trying to make sense of Donald Trump’s erratic distribution of favours. Their diplomatic manoeuvres are more rational. And they get results. But there is also an element of superstition. Visiting politicians make lavish gestures, strike unusual poses, cultivate White House contacts, looking for the sequence of steps that will unlock a steady supply of American amity. The causal relation is not lacking, but it is unreliable. » | Rafael Behr | Tuesday, August 19, 2025

Former US Commander Ben Hodges on the Ukraine Summit at the White House | DW News

Aug 19, 2025 | Former Commanding General of US Army Europe Ben Hodges sits down for an interview with DW’s Washington bureau chief Ines Pohl to discuss the outcome of the meeting between President Trump, President Zelenskyy and European leaders.

Trump Outsmarted by Zelenskyy and European Leaders as He Delivers Putin Talking Points at Summit

Aug 19, 2025 | Donald Trump thought he was hosting an episode of the EU Apprentice and was outsmarted by European leaders at the White House during his farcical Ukraine summit, delivering Putin's talking points, and saying a whole lot of nothing to end the war.

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Zelenskyy Survives Trump... But Has Anything Really Changed?

Aug 19, 2025 | In a tone entirely different from Zelenksyy’s last visit to Washington in February, this evening saw Trump praising the Ukrainian president. Zelenksyy was on the charm offensive. And it seemed to work. Trump bestowed his other European guests with compliments and promised that America would play a key part in the security guarantees if there is a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.

It was in some ways a remarkable event, with European leaders sat around the roundtable kissing the ring of President Trump. But will it amount to anything? Can the US really guarantee the security of Ukraine? Will it? And where does this leave peace talks now?

At White House Summit, a Master Class of Diplomacy. In Courting Trump.

THE NEW YORK TIMES: President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine and other European leaders have learned a thing or two about negotiating, Trump-style. So has Vladimir Putin.

Over the course of the last seven months, the leaders of the Western world have been enrolled in an intensive course of Trumpology. One by one, presidents and prime ministers of European countries have traveled to Washington, learning all sorts of lessons about how best to handle the tricky man who sits behind the big desk in the gold-wrapped room shaped like an Oval.

On Monday, the whole class showed up at the White House. The time had come to put their education to use. And it was the Ukrainian leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, who seemed to have learned the most since his last visit, when he was mocked for not wearing a suit, deemed insufficiently deferential and ultimately kicked out.

This time he showed up to his Oval Office meeting with a more formal look, a game sense of humor and a letter for the first lady.

“I cannot believe it,” Mr. Trump said as he looked Mr. Zelensky up and down, taking measure of his new black-on-black get-up. “I love it. Look at you.” » | Shawn McCreesh | Shawn McCreesh is a White House correspondent. He reported from Washington. | Monday, August 18, 2025

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5 Takeaways From Trump’s Meeting With Zelensky and European Leaders: The leaders presented a relatively united front and appeared to agree on the next steps in the effort to halt the fighting between Ukraine and Russia. But much remained unresolved. »

Zelensky Says He’s Ready to Meet Putin After Trump Talks: President Volodymyr Zelensky emerged upbeat, but repeated that Ukraine will not cede land to Russia. There were few tangible signs of progress toward a peace deal. »

President Obama: Trump and I "Could Not Be More Different"

Speaking in Athens, Greece, President Obama made it clear he's a very different type of leader than President-elect Donald Trump. CBS News' Margaret Brennan has more on his comments and the purpose of the president's overseas trip.

European Leaders Respond to Syria Conflict

Momentum is building in Europe as politicians consider how they will respond to the alleged chemical weapons attack last week in Syria.