A carnival float depicts Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hitting a love hammer on Russia’s President Vladimir Putin at the presentation of this year’s satirical carnival floats for the Rose Monday Parade in Cologne,

Two top European leaders stiffened their spines Saturday over unsettling new policies from Washington under President Donald Trump, as Ukraine’s president urged creation of an “armed forces of Europe” and the leader of Germany denounced meddling in its election after U.

A carnival float depicts Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy using a love hammer on Russia's President Vladimir Putin at the presentation of this year's satirical carnival floats for the Rose Monday

Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz, right and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, meet for talks at the Munich Security Conference, in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Feb.15, 2025. (/DPA via AP, Pool)

Germany's chancellor hit back after U.S. Vice President JD Vance scolded European leaders over their approach to democracy and met with the leader of a German far-right party.

MUNICH - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected a Trump administration request this week that Kyiv hand over 50% of its mineral resources - an extraordinary demand that could significantly overshadow the value of aid that has been sent to Ukraine.

Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz, right and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, meet for talks at the Munich Security Conference, in Munich, Germany,

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hit back at Americans for meddling in his country’s election after U.S. Vice President JD Vance scolded European leaders over their approach to democracy and met with the leader of a German far-right party.

Vice President JD Vance will lead the U.S. delegation to the Munich Security Conference amid intense concern and uncertainty over the Trump administration’s foreign policy

I didn’t let the ministers sign a relevant agreement because in my view it is not ready to protect us, our interest,” Zelenskyy said on Saturday in Munich.

Trump's conversation with Putin set the stage for this year's Munich conference. It raised concerns in Kyiv and European capitals that Trump would take a much more transactional approach to negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine.

Germany’s likely new Chancellor, Friedrich Merz has assured Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of his support regarding the ongoing war. Friedrich gave the assurance on Friday shortly after Zelenskyy clashed with President Donald Trump at the Oval Office in the White House.