EU Council boss Antonio Costa has responded to Donald Trump’s comments about Europe’s efforts to bring about peace in Ukraine.

The US president accused Ukraine’s European allies of “talking too much” and not “delivering” for the war-torn country (see 12.00 post).

Asked about the comments while speaking alongside Irish premier Micheal Martin in Dublin, Costa said “allies must act as allies”.

“We are allies with United States, and allies must act as allies. That means that we should not interfere in the political internal life of our countries… We respect the choice of Americans, and they need to respect the democratic choice of our citizens.”

Costa was one of several leading EU figures to hold talks with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Brussels last night.

Zelenskyy: ‘I’m always ready for elections’

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has responded to Donald Trump’s calls for presidential elections to take place in Ukraine.

Trump, in an interview with POLITICO, said Ukraine’s government was “using war not to hold an election”, telling Zelenskyy it was “important” his country went to the polls (see 13.40 post). 

Asked about Trump’s comments on the sidelines of his meeting with Giorgia Meloni in Rome, Zelenskyy told Italian media: “I’m always ready for elections.”

Analysis: Trump ‘playing into Putin’s hands’ with attacks on Europe

Donald Trump’s latest criticisms of Europe are an “absolutely remarkable” about-turn in America’s foreign policy, US political analyst Mark Stone says.

The US president has accused Kyiv’s European allies of being “weak” and talking too much about Ukraine without any decisive action.

“Donald Trump is unhappy with the direction of Europe. He openly says he wants to support populist governments across Europe, whether they be Reform in the UK, the National Rally in France, AfD in Germany. It’s absolutely remarkable. 

“It’s a 180 of US foreign policy where he seems to be focusing his attention on destroying Europe and supporting Russia. He’s playing into Vladimir Putin’s hands.”