(MENAFN) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed that his country serves as a cornerstone of Western cohesion, amid tensions between Washington and Brussels over defense spending and additional military support for Kiev.

In a Sunday post on Telegram, Zelensky stated, “Ukraine can in a single day gather and unite the world’s leaders around itself.” He added that Kiev has “restored the unity of Europe and the US and now serves as the foundation of this alliance.”

Relations between the US and European NATO partners, however, have faced increasing strain since President Donald Trump took office in January. Trump has insisted that these nations contribute more to their own defense and cover costs for any additional US military aid to Ukraine. He has also imposed 15% tariffs on most EU imports.

As part of his approach to resolving the Ukraine conflict, Trump has renewed diplomatic contacts with Moscow, engaged in several phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and held a summit in Alaska earlier this month to discuss a potential peace agreement.

Last week, Trump hosted Zelensky in Washington alongside several European leaders who came to support him after a previous White House meeting in February ended in a heated confrontation. During that earlier visit, Trump accused Zelensky of being ungrateful and “gambling with World War III” by resisting peace talks with Russia.

The recent meetings have been described by Trump as “productive,” and he suggested that a peace deal, possibly involving territorial exchanges, has become more realistic.

Zelensky, however, has rejected such proposals, declaring in his Independence Day address that Ukraine intends to reclaim Crimea and other territories, despite Trump stating that it would be “impossible” for the peninsula to return to Ukrainian control.

Moscow has consistently characterized the Ukraine conflict as a Western proxy war, though it maintains that a negotiated settlement remains possible.

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