By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
MOSCOW/KYIV (Worthy News) – Russian and Ukrainian leaders are among European government representatives reacting to U.S. President Joe Biden’s decision not to seek reelection. His decision has added to uncertainty in Europe, which faces its biggest armed conflict since the Second World War.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was among the first leaders to express gratitude for what he called Joe Biden’s “unwavering support” since Russia invaded his country in February 2022.
Writing moment after Biden announced he would not run again for president, Zelenskyy said: “We will always be thankful for President Biden’s leadership. He supported our country during the most dramatic moment in history, assisted us in preventing Putin from occupying our country, and has continued to support us throughout this terrible war.”
In March, Biden asserted that Kyiv could prevail against Moscow if the U.S. continued to stand with Ukraine “and provide the weapons it needs to defend the region and the region itself,” but stopping short of deploying U.S. troops to Ukraine.
With President Donald J. Trump leading the polls ahead of the presidential elections, it was unclear when and if those military commitments would continue.
In Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there were still four months until the elections, which he said is “a long period during which a lot can change.”
RUSSIA WARNINGS
Peskov warned, however, that while Russia patiently and carefully monitors what happens next in the United States, Moscow’s priority is achieving the goals of what he called the special military operation, not the results of the elections in the U.S.
Yet Biden’s “difficult” decision to leave was acknowledged by Polish President Donald Tusk and Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala as driven by the larger interest of the U.S.
In separate statements, they both made clear that it was likely one of Biden’s most difficult decisions, which made it all the more valuable.
Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer agreed, saying: “I respect President Biden’s decision, and I look forward to us working together during the remainder of his presidency.”
Tourists in London agreed. “I have a great deal of respect for him for what he has done. But I think he has lost his confidence as a leader. Even though he knows what he is doing, I don’t think he can galvanize the will of the people, which is very important at this time,” said Cass Cannon, a London resident originally from Virginia.
STRONG CANDIDATE
“Biden wasn’t a strong candidate in the first place. And I feel with the momentum with everything that is going, in the end, Trump is going to win,” added Solomon Bauch, a London resident who is originally from Virginia,
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, one of Europe’s staunchest supporters of former U.S. President Donald J. Trump, has not yet praised Biden’s legacy.
He has suggested that Trump survived a recent assassination attempt by Devine intervention as, in his words, he wants to bring peace to the world once again.“
In the Netherlands, preparations were underway for a post-Biden era: former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte will soon become the next secretary general of the NATO military alliance.
Rutte, who had a good relationship with Biden, is all but certain to either face the NATO critical Trump or Harris as his next most important American partner at a time when the alliance faces significant security challenges.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
Latest News from Worthy News
President Donald Trump signed the temporary peace deal with Iran ahead of schedule Wednesday at the Palace of Versailles in France, kicking off negotiations over a final nuclear deal.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s statement following the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the United States is being viewed by analysts not as an embrace of peace, but as a carefully crafted declaration that preserves Tehran’s revolutionary posture while allowing the regime to regroup.
The United States imposed new sanctions Thursday on individuals and entities linked to Hezbollah, accusing them of using political and financial influence to obstruct Lebanon’s peace process and delay the Iran-backed group’s disarmament.
Ukraine launched one of its largest drone attacks on Moscow since the war began, hitting a key oil refinery and other targets around the Russian capital, leaving at least one person dead and numerous others injured, Russian officials said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Southeast Asian leaders in Kazan this week as Moscow moved to deepen ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and promote its vision of a “multipolar world order” aimed at countering U.S. global dominance.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israeli troops will not withdraw from southern Lebanon and will maintain a security zone there for as long as Israel’s defense needs require, placing Jerusalem at odds with both Tehran and the terms of a U.S.-Iran memorandum that calls for an end to hostilities in Lebanon.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told NATO leaders Thursday that the Pentagon is launching a six-month review of U.S. force posture and basing in Europe, signaling a major push by the Trump administration to ensure European allies assume primary responsibility for defending the continent.